TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's education minister defended students' rights to free expression and civic engagement during a statement Monday (April 14), emphasizing these freedoms as cornerstone values in the island's higher education system. The minister highlighted campus democracy as an essential element that distinguishes Taiwan's educational environment.
The minister's comments come as students across Taiwan have begun establishing recall booths on university grounds, generating mixed reactions. National Chengchi University (NCCU, 政治大學), one of Taiwan's premier institutions, has emphasized its commitment to political neutrality while acknowledging that the Public Officials Election And Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) protects students' democratic participation rights.
Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) reaffirmed the government's position that student activism and civic engagement warrant protection. He clarified that expressions of political awareness remain protected speech, provided they avoid causing harm to others, spreading defamatory content, or creating public safety concerns.
The minister referenced existing Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) guidelines issued in 2017 and 2018 that direct universities to maintain political neutrality and prohibit formal political party activities on campus. Cheng drew a distinction between partisan activities, which remain restricted, and expressions of civic engagement, which he confirmed are acceptable within academic settings. ★