Taiwan Principals Face Extreme Pressure, Survey Reveals 15 Deaths in 5 Years

The demanding nature of the principalship in Taiwan is under intense scrutiny following the recent sudden death of Lu Ping-shan, principal of Kaohsiung Municipal Zhongzheng High School. A survey by the Taiwan Association of School Principals (TASP) reveals a grim reality: in the last five years, 15 principals across eight counties and cities have died while serving their terms. Alarmingly, 13 of these deaths were sudden, attributed to illness or acute health events, accounting for over 85% of the total.

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Lu Ping-shan collapsed in the principal's office restroom on June 25 and had no vital signs before being sent to the hospital. He was 57 years old.

Lu Ping-shan's case exemplifies the extreme pressures faced by school leaders. He collapsed in his office restroom on June 25 and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital at age 57. His death occurred amidst a controversy involving teacher selection for senior high schools, where he and 17 other principals were sued by unsuccessful candidates. The timing of a court hearing coinciding with his funeral arrangements forced fellow principals to choose between legal obligations and mourning a colleague, underscoring the heavy judicial and administrative burdens they carry.

TASP attributes these tragic outcomes to principals working an average of 12 to 14 hours daily, including constant on-call duties during weekends for school affairs and activities. This chronic overwork leads to a growing number of retirements and a decline in applicants for principal positions, forcing some counties to rely on retired principals or education bureau staff for interim leadership.

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Principals are long-term in a high-hour, high-pressure, and high-legal-risk environment. We call on the Ministry of Education and local governments to reform the system from the aspects of administrative manpower, health care, and legal support to prevent the recurrence of tragedies.

The association identifies three primary sources of stress: an ever-increasing volume of administrative tasks and urgent assignments that detract from educational leadership; escalating legal and administrative responsibilities related to school safety, gender equality, bullying, and child protection; and the psychological toll of frequent anonymous complaints, online accusations, and public judgment, all without adequate protective mechanisms.

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Currently, principals work an average of 12 to 14 hours a day, and still need to be on call 24 hours a day on holidays to handle school affairs and participate in various activities, being in a state of overwork for a long time.

To address this crisis, TASP proposes four key reforms: increasing the number of vice-principals and dedicated administrative staff based on school size, similar to Taipei's model; subsidizing principal health check-ups to include cardiovascular and cancer screenings; establishing dedicated units within the Ministry of Education and local governments to manage large-scale educational events, thereby reducing school administrative burdens; and creating legal consultation and professional support teams in each county to provide legal assistance and institutional safeguards. TASP Chairman Chen Ching-yi emphasizes that supporting principals is crucial for stable school governance and educational quality, urging systemic improvements, enhanced staffing, legal aid, and health guarantees to create a more supportive environment for educators.

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Education is the foundation of a nation, and principals are important leaders for campus stability. When principals are in a state of overwork, high pressure, and legal risk for a long time, it not only affects personal health but also impacts campus governance and educational quality.