KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST, 高雄科技大學) on Thursday (Jan. 2) decided not to renew the contracts of two teachers following a controversy that erupted over the use of simplified Chinese characters in final exam papers and a business card labeling Taiwan as a province of China.
The Ministry of Education (教育部) has categorized this event as an administrative error, affecting the university's grants and subsidies.
NKUST convened an emergency meeting and resolved not to rehire the teachers involved. Officials explained that one instructor used exercises from Chinese textbooks due to a lack of traditional Chinese resources, prompting a review of exam fairness. The university has notified all faculty to use traditional Chinese characters in exams to protect students' rights and ensure fair assessment.
Another teacher, whose business card included the phrase "Taiwan, Province of China," initially received support from the university for personal freedom of speech. However, the institution later decided not to renew this teacher's contract. The university emphasized the importance of upholding national dignity and ensuring all actions and documents align with the national stance.