High-school students yesterday demonstrated in support of students’ rights outside a meeting to assess Taiwan’s progress in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The review of the government’s CRC report, conducted every five years in accordance with the Implementation Act of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (兒童權利公約施行法), was held yesterday in Taipei.
Although not an official signatory to the convention, as it is not a UN member, Taiwan adopted the convention in 2014 and promulgated the act to pledge its commitment to the goals of the accord.
Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times
A panel of five experts is meeting at the Taipei International Convention Center until Friday to review progress since the first report, and to review proposed recommendations for the next five years.
Students gathered in front of the center to call attention to “unreasonable” school regulations and norms that infringe on students’ rights.
They cited teachers measuring students’ bangs with a ruler, even though hairstyle rules were repealed 17 years ago.
The Ministry of Education in recent years eased dress regulations and mandatory morning study hall, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy deputy director Ho Wei-tzu (何蔚慈) said.
However, schools have been slow to change, and many are operating in defiance of ministry rules, he said.
While reporting mechanisms have been updated to allow students to report contraventions, Ho said that the ministry should not wait until it receives a complaint before acting.
Instead, it should be regularly and randomly inspecting schools to ensure compliance, he added.
Authorities should check to make sure student complaints are addressed to make sure they are not left to face the situation alone, he said.
Yesterday’s demonstration was entirely student-initiated and led, Ho said, adding that they would make a presentation to the panel.
Kevin Huang (黃冠凱), head of the student council at the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, criticized a tendency among school administrators to ignore student views.
As the representative of a student organization, Huang said he has attended many school meetings at various levels, but it is difficult for students to be heard.
For example, last year the council proposed allowing students to eat lunch off campus, but the idea was rejected in a vote dominated by school administrators, he said.
The right of children to participate in public affairs is protected under the CRC, he said, urging school administrators to listen to students’ views and respect their rights.
The Ministry of Education’s Department of Student Affairs and Special Education Director Wu Lin-hui (吳林輝) accepted a petition from the students, saying he would convey their sentiments to teachers and school administrators.
He said he recognizes their demands, but added that ministry policies are already drafted according to their demands, and following other advanced nations.
Ministry regulations are unevenly adopted by schools, Wu said, urging administrators to update their policies.
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