The recent brutal killing of a junior high school student that shocked the country has sparked growing concern among parents regarding campus safety. The National Alliance of Presidents of Parents Associations (NAPPA) attended a press conference at the Education Ministry on Tuesday emphasizing the current inadequacies in campus safety networks.
NAPPA head Chang Che-wei (張哲維) says that Taiwanese parents want to know "What has happened to Taiwan’s school campus security?”. He says that flaws in the regulations regarding teachers’ discipline of students are one of the concerns. Chang says that if students are expelled or withdrawn from school, they are allowed to appeal or file legal complaints, which makes it difficult for schools and teachers to deal with problems. He adds that lax implementation of security checks in schools and the return of troubled students to schools also cause concerns about potential safety risks.
NAPPA has called on judicial authorities to review the measures regarding handling juvenile incidents. Chang has asked for government accountability and says that swift improvements should be made to ensure student safety on campus.
Deputy Director General of the Education Administration Tai Shu-fen (戴淑芬) says that the Education Administration has heard the voices of parents. She pointed out the ministry’s commitment to addressing the concerns, citing the establishment of a cross-agency task force that convened on December 28 and is set to meet again on Thursday to further discuss and enhance campus safety measures.