Taiwan Ministry of Education Promotes Social-Emotional Learning, Funds Local Resource Centers and Schools

Taiwan's Ministry of Education is actively promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) nationwide, recognizing the growing importance of students' emotional well-being and interpersonal skills. To foster cross-system collaboration and inter-school exchange, the ministry will provide subsidies to local governments for the establishment of 'Social-Emotional Learning Resource Centers' and 'Seed Schools'.

These initiatives are designed to create robust local support networks. The Ministry of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction convened the first national coordination meeting on promoting SEL, bringing together representatives from county and city education bureaus, resource centers, and seed schools to share their experiences. Examples cited include New Taipei City integrating mental health resources for parent workshops and Kaohsiung City consolidating counseling and family education systems.

Jian Ya-hui, a division chief at the Ministry of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction, explained that SEL not only cultivates students' self-awareness, interpersonal interaction, and emotional management skills but also emphasizes whole-school participation to gradually build a supportive learning environment. This approach involves collaboration across government agencies, schools, and communities to enhance understanding and recognition of SEL.

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SEL not only cultivates students' self-awareness, interpersonal interaction, and emotional management skills but also emphasizes whole-school participation to gradually build a supportive learning environment.

Various local governments have already integrated SEL into different aspects of education, including life education, character education, outdoor activities, and various subject curricula. New Taipei City's Education Bureau partnered with the Bureau of Health's mental health center for community outreach lectures to improve parents' emotional upbringing knowledge. Kaohsiung City has formed a collaborative model involving administration, curriculum, counseling, and families by integrating the National Education Counseling Group, Student Counseling and Consultation Center, and Family Education Center.

Furthermore, some cities are developing unique local mechanisms. Penghu County has created miniaturized SEL curriculum modules suitable for its island environment, fostering a sense of local belonging. Matsu (Lienchiang County) has organized localized application workshops for SEL in island schools, incorporating local culture into relevant courses. Jian Ya-hui stated that due to differing foundational levels, development timelines, and regional characteristics, the implementation of SEL requires continued cooperation between central and local authorities. The Ministry of Education will continue to hold national coordination meetings to establish a horizontal exchange platform.

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Due to differing foundational levels, development timelines, and regional characteristics, the implementation of SEL requires continued cooperation between central and local authorities.