More Than 99% of School Staffing Ready for New Term, Taiwan Education Minister Says

Taiwan’s schools began the new term with more than 99% of their teaching positions filled, but some campuses are still recruiting substitute teachers.

Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao said local governments remain responsible for teacher hiring. Based on the figures available to the ministry, every city and county had reached at least 99% staffing, with schedules and classes arranged so normal teaching could continue.

The ministry’s National K-12 Education Administration said schools had not stopped hiring simply because opening-day classes were covered. It urged local governments to continue recruiting substitute teachers to strengthen staffing and reduce the additional teaching burden placed on existing teachers during the transition.

Where vacancies remain, authorities are expected to prioritize hiring permanent teachers. Schools can then recruit substitute teachers, followed if necessary by temporary measures such as hourly teaching, joint appointments across schools, assistance from retired teachers, part-time lessons or additional teaching hours.

The Education Ministry said it would continue monitoring recruitment and helping local governments fill remaining positions. It also said short-term arrangements should gradually decrease as more staff are hired, rather than turning extra teaching by current teachers into a regular staffing model.

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Teacher hiring is the responsibility of each city and county government.