Taiwan School for Deaf Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Gender Equality Issues

The National Tainan University of Education Affiliated School for the Deaf (NCU) is once again at the center of a gender equality scandal, a stark reminder of a devastating case 14 years ago that shocked the nation and inspired the film "Innocence." The Control Yuan has impeached former counselor Huang Fa-chuan and former student affairs director Kuo Yung-tso, citing violations of professional ethics in their dealings with a female teacher and a male student.

This latest incident has reignited calls for reform from the Humanistic Education Foundation. The foundation expressed dismay that the school has seemingly failed to learn from past mistakes, alleging continued cover-ups of perpetrators. They are urging the Ministry of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of the school's governance and accountability mechanisms.

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14 years later, the school still hasn't learned its lesson and continues to cover up perpetrators.

The Control Yuan's investigation revealed significant lapses in the school's handling of the situation. Officials allegedly failed to report the gender equality incident within the legally mandated timeframe and initially attempted to resolve it through internal administrative means rather than initiating a formal investigation. The investigation also uncovered serious misconduct, including alleged evidence tampering and obstruction of justice.

In 2023, the Control Yuan initiated a follow-up investigation into the school, building on previous findings. The impeachment of these administrators underscores the persistent issues within the school's response to gender equality complaints. The Humanistic Education Foundation insists that the Ministry of Education must not only hold responsible individuals accountable but also fundamentally reassess the school's leadership selection, gender equality education, and reporting systems to prevent future tragedies and ensure a safe learning environment for students with disabilities.

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The Ministry of Education should hold accountable those who failed in their duties and comprehensively review the school's campus governance and supervision mechanisms.