Sat, Apr 12, 2025 page8

• Improving all-out defense education

  • By Chang Ling-ling 張玲玲
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  I had some thoughts after reading Tsai Yu-ming’s (蔡裕明) article published in the Taipei Times today titled “National security education needed.” As a university professor, I believe that the integration of national security and risk literacy into the general education curriculum is a commendable goal — one that would bring vitality to the enhancing of Taiwan’s national resilience.

  Article 5 of the All-Out Defense Education Act (全民國防教育法) stipulates that “all-out defense education” should be implemented on a regular basis, including in “school education,” “on-the-job trainings at governmental agencies (institutions),” “social education,” and the “protection, promotion and education of national defense artifacts.”

  Schools at all levels promote curricula in accordance with the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education. School education is essentially the first line of defense in “all-out defense education” and is vital in equipping future leaders with awareness of the enemy and emerging crises.

  Although clearly mandated by the law, factors such as the pressure of academic advancement and the career-oriented nature of higher education have left national defense education largely overlooked — sometimes even neglected entirely. National defense teaching and promotional activities are usually just hastily-organized formalities completed for the sake of ticking a box.

  I have followed that issue for a long time and found that very few school principals lead in caring for and supporting national defense education. However, faculty and students at those few schools tend to have a higher threat awareness. That suggests that if schools strengthened their implementation efforts, national defense awareness among the population would inevitably improve.

  While school education lays the foundation, social education targets the broader population, serving as the vital link to the public and local communities. At present, social education initiatives are overseen by the Ministry of National Defense.

  Each year, the ministry holds promotional activities, such as open house events at military bases, concerts marking the anniversary of the end of World War II, all-out defense education school tours, high-school honor guard competitions, national defense education summer camps and a reality TV program, Fighting (能戰！全民新視界). However, large-scale social education efforts often require significant mobilization of military personnel, which can inevitably impact the regular combat training schedule of the troops.

  Therefore, the Ministry of Defense should consider entrusting those activities to civil groups that have the expertise, creativity and flexibility to develop engaging and diverse formats that resonate with the public.

  That would not only reduce the military’s burden, but also make it easier to convey ideas to the public. It goes without saying that outsourcing such activities to civil groups would require a clear cooperation framework and mechanisms for supervision to ensure that the content and quality of the activities meet objectives and standards.

  For many years during my military service, I served as an all-out defense education instructor for various government agencies. Recently, I was invited by the Armed Forces Reserve Command to teach the “Introduction to All-Out Defense Education” course as part of reserve officer training.

  Department officials have been proactive and thoughtful in preparing reserve officers to become seed instructors. More than 200 officers from across the country participated in the course — many of whom took three days off work to attend.

  Their dedication was evident: they took detailed notes, asked thoughtful questions and were fully engaged throughout the lectures. Even after completing their military service, those officers continue to show a deep commitment to doing their utmost to protect the nation, demonstrating a strong sense of duty and recognition of the importance of defense education.

  There are still many retired military personnel and civilians with expertise in national defense education who deserve to be properly used.

  After assessing individuals’ willingness and qualifications, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education could collaborate to establish a dedicated instructor database.

  That database could be made available to schools, communities and social education organizations as a recruitment and matchmaking service — injecting fresh momentum and resources into all-out defense education efforts.

  Chang Ling-ling is a retired colonel in the armed forces reserves. She is a resident of New Taipei City.

  Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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