Taiwan Teachers' Union Backs Enhanced School Security, Urges 'Sixth Defense Line' for Families in Anti-Drug Push

Taiwan's Executive Yuan is advancing a plan to implement a "fifth security layer" in schools, proposing the deployment of retired military and police personnel to bolster campus safety. These individuals would aid in security work and establish support agreements with law enforcement, allowing police to enter campuses for investigations when intelligence indicates a need.

The National Federation of Teachers' Unions (NTFU) expressed support for the government's efforts to strengthen drug interdiction and prevent drugs from entering schools. However, the union emphasized that anti-drug initiatives should not solely burden educational institutions. They advocate for elevating the "Guidelines for Schools in Establishing Teacher Counseling and Discipline of Students" to legal standing and creating a "sixth line of defense" centered on family education, parental accountability, and community support.

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The anti-drug work cannot rely solely on the campus to bear responsibility; it should elevate 'Guidelines for Schools in Establishing Teacher Counseling and Discipline of Students' to the legal level and establish a 'sixth line of defense.'

NTFU President Lin Hui-jung highlighted that students spend limited time in school, and many high-risk individuals, dropouts, and those with behavioral issues are often outside school grounds or after hours. While schools conduct anti-drug campaigns and provide counseling, they struggle to monitor students' after-school lives, friendships, and online activities, lacking public authority to intervene. Concentrating anti-drug efforts solely on campuses risks limiting policy effectiveness by neglecting crucial family and community roles.

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If there is clear intelligence and significant illegal evidence, schools should not be a sanctuary for criminal behavior, but law enforcement must be carried out by current police officers according to law.

Regarding police entering schools for investigations, Lin stated that campuses should not shield criminal activity if clear intelligence and evidence of serious violations exist. However, she stressed that law enforcement must be conducted by active police officers according to law, adhering to principles that minimize disruption to teaching, protect student privacy, and involve prior coordination with schools to prevent panic or stigmatization. For younger elementary students, a significant police presence could be frightening, requiring a more cautious approach. For junior and senior high students, police intervention for drug use, trafficking, serious violence, or other major offenses could serve as a deterrent. The NTFU urged the Executive Yuan to establish clear public authority intervention mechanisms rather than focusing solely on personnel deployment.

Lin also pointed out that recent controversies surrounding school affairs meetings have placed pressure on teachers. When dealing with students suspected of drug use, possessing e-cigarettes, or exhibiting violent behavior, teachers often fear subsequent appeals and investigations. Current disciplinary measures lack mandatory legal force, and parental non-cooperation can limit their effectiveness. The NTFU called for the government to enhance teacher disciplinary regulations to legal status and establish the "sixth line of defense," integrating family education, parental responsibility, high-risk family tracking, and social and police cooperation into a comprehensive anti-drug system where families, schools, communities, and the government share responsibility.

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For elementary school students, a large police presence on campus may cause fright, and the execution method should be more cautious.