About 40 percent of teachers experience “extreme fatigue,” while 90 percent have been required to take on extra teaching hours, a survey by the National Substitute Teachers Union found today.
Elementary and middle schools have been struggling with teacher shortages in recent years due to Taiwan’s declining birthrate and structural changes in the education sector.
As the new school year began yesterday, the Ministry of Education said that there were still 614 vacant substitute teacher positions nationwide as of Tuesday last week.
Photo courtesy of Tamsui Vocational High School via CNA
The ministry said it would continue to encourage recruitment, although schools may ask retired teachers to step in if necessary or for current teachers to take on additional classes.
In an online survey with 136 voluntary responses, the union found that teachers reported an average fatigue score of 4.12 out of 5.
Some teachers reported being required to teach 35 classes a week across multiple schools, the union said in a news release.
It called on central and local education authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and disclose data on teacher shortages, demand for substitute teachers and cases in which teachers were forced to take on additional teaching hours.
Department of K-12 Education Administration senior specialist Liao Man-yun (廖曼雲) said the ministry would clarify the data with local governments.
She encouraged local governments to provide additional benefits to incentivize recruitment, such as increasing administrative allowances or providing lunches and health checkups.
Extra teaching hours should only be used as a last resort, she added.
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
MODERATE TYPHOON: Localized heavy rain is forecast to hit central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said, adding that the storm would likely move away on Saturday A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which shifted to a more northerly track as it approached Taiwan, is likely early today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of typhoon was about 630km northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 14kph with maximum wind gusts of up to 162kph, CWA data showed. Saudel is a moderate typhoon and is expected to weaken as it nears Taiwan due to atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. A sea warning indicates hazardous typhoon conditions in waters surrounding Taiwan within 24 hours, Lin said. The storm is forecast to
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