TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih unveiled a comprehensive four-point strategy on Thursday (Jan. 4) aimed at addressing the growing prevalence of violence within schools.
Criticizing what he sees as deficiencies in the social safety net established during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, Hou's proposal encompasses stricter regulations modeled after Japan and South Korea, proactive educational measures, reinforced security protocols, and more severe penalties for gang-related intrusions on school premises.
Hou's assestment is prompted by an incident on Dec. 25, wherein a high school student in New Taipei City suffered a neck injury in an attack. This incident has drawn nationwide attention to the issue of campus security.
Expressing doubt about the efficacy of the government's Social Safety Net 2.0 initiative, Hou contends that the NT＄40.7 billion allocated by former Premier Su Tseng-chang for enhancing social safety has failed to address the underlying problem.
Tung Yao-tsung, president of the New Taipei City Parents' Association for Elementary and Junior High Schools, echoed Hou's concerns and called for the Ministry of Education to revise regulations pertaining to student misconduct and the possession of dangerous items on school grounds.
Retired teacher Wang Chiung-yuan also argued that the current system places excessive emphasis on individual rights and urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize the implementation of an intermediary education system to enhance school security, asserting that this approach would yield more tangible results and reduce tragic incidents on campuses.
