TAINAN (TVBS News) — The Tainan City Government announced on Wednesday (June 26) the implementation of new regulations to ensure the safety of teachers and students in outdoor education programs. This initiative makes Tainan the first among Taiwan's six major municipalities to finalize such measures. The Department of Education explained that the amendment to the Primary and Junior High School Act Article 37, Paragraph 1, revised on June 21, 2023, requires schools to encourage outdoor learning and provide exploratory, hands-on courses.
Parents have been concerned about the costs associated with outdoor education. The new regulations address these concerns by requiring schools to conduct risk assessments and develop comprehensive plans in advance, which aim to reduce disputes and enhance safety. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) highlighted that these outdoor activities could broaden students' horizons and enrich their learning experiences.
According to Tainan City Education Department Commissioner Cheng Hsin-hui (鄭新輝), outdoor education is now an integral part of the school curriculum. Each educational route has a curriculum plan, a teacher's guide, and a student's guide, simplifying the teaching and learning process. Cheng emphasized the city’s commitment to developing high-quality local educational routes that reflect Tainan's unique characteristics and meet curriculum requirements.