TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) announced on Wednesday (July 9) the launch of the first phase of a five-year plan for the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program. The initiative will discard quantitative indicators and develop teaching programs to enhance students' emotional intelligence.
Wu Lin-hui (吳林輝), head of the Department of Student Affairs and Special Education (學務特教司), stated that the plan will invest NT$440 million over five years, beginning with the development of teaching materials and teacher training. Wu emphasized that modern children, belonging to the internet generation, face limited parent-child interaction due to parents' work commitments, leading to potential feelings of emptiness despite the convenience of online friendships.
The SEL program aims to help students recognize their emotions, learn adaptation and interpersonal skills, and reduce online harm through digital literacy education. The initiative encourages real-world interactions. Starting in 2025, the program will allocate NT$100 million annually to develop localized curricula, nurture talent, and promote communication strategies.
The National Academy for Educational Research (國家教育研究院) will gather domestic and international experiences to develop localized curricula for trial teaching in elementary and middle schools. They will also train seed teachers to disseminate these experiences further. This comprehensive approach seeks to bridge the gap between virtual and real-life interactions for young learners.