Taiwan's Pingtung County faces critical shortage of elementary substitute teachers amid retirement wave

Pingtung County is struggling to fill teaching positions in its elementary schools, with a significant shortage of 75 substitute teachers for the upcoming 115th academic year. This deficit is part of a broader trend across Taiwan, where a wave of teacher retirements is impacting the education system.

Officials had planned to recruit 488 substitute teachers for elementary schools. As of the end of July, 413 positions have been filled, leaving 75 vacancies. The situation highlights the challenges schools face in maintaining adequate staffing levels amid a shifting demographic of educators.

While the need for substitute teachers in junior high schools has seen a reduction compared to the previous year, the elementary school sector in Pingtung faces a more pressing need. The county is actively working to address the remaining vacancies to ensure a stable learning environment for students.