Taiwan Teachers' Unions Demand 'High-Risk Student Exit Mechanism' Amid Campus Violence Concerns

Taiwanese teachers' unions are demanding the establishment of an "exit mechanism" for high-risk students, citing a recent incident of persistent disruptive behavior by a primary school student in Taipei that caused physical and psychological harm to teachers and classmates. Ten major teachers' unions jointly issued a statement on August 4, arguing that the current system fails to adequately support frontline educators and schools, placing the burden of responsibility on them.

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Protecting students' right to education and respecting individual differences is important, but it cannot be at the expense of the life safety and educational rights of other teachers and students.

The unions assert that while protecting students' right to education and respecting individual differences is crucial, it should not come at the expense of the safety and educational rights of other students and teachers. They highlighted situations where parents refuse medical intervention, special education assessments, or parental education, leading to systemic paralysis and immense pressure on teachers and schools. This issue, they stressed, is not isolated but a widespread challenge across Taiwan's educational landscape.

Guo Yen-cheng, chairman of the Taiwan Teachers' Union (TTU), stated that educational authorities must fulfill their employer responsibilities under the "Occupational Safety and Health Act." When a school reports a high-risk case, the authorities should provide immediate administrative support and safety guarantees, covering medical expenses, psychological counseling, and legal aid for affected teachers. For students with special education needs, the unions called for dedicated one-on-one professional assistants and behavior intervention counselors in high-risk classes, advocating for these positions to be formally recognized to address current staffing shortages.

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When a school reports a high-risk case, the authorities should provide immediate administrative support and safety guarantees, covering medical expenses, psychological counseling, and legal aid for affected teachers.

Chung Cheng-hsin, executive director of the TTU's Special Education Strategy Center, proposed that educational authorities develop standard operating procedures for the "temporary isolation" and "emergency transfer" of high-risk students whose behavior poses a significant safety threat or disrupts teaching. He urged cross-departmental collaboration involving education, social welfare, and health departments to intervene when parents refuse necessary medical treatment, behavioral correction, or special education assessments. Legal intervention, including mandatory parental education or judicial involvement, should be pursued when necessary, enforcing relevant provisions of the "Special Education Act."

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Educational authorities should establish standard operating procedures for the 'temporary isolation' and 'emergency transfer' of high-risk students whose behavior poses a significant safety threat or disrupts teaching.

Guo Yen-cheng further emphasized the need for education bureaus to assist affected teachers and parents in seeking legal recourse, holding legal guardians accountable under civil law. He called on the Ministry of Education to review and amend existing regulations to close loopholes and ensure a safe, dignified, and sustainable educational environment for all. The joint statement was signed by ten unions, including the TTU, and unions from Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yilan, Keelung, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Penghu.

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Without campus safety, there is no educational quality. We call on educational authorities to establish a complete safety disposal and exit mechanism, creating a safe, dignified, and sustainable educational environment.