TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) announced on Monday (Aug. 26) that schools can use its education talent pool matching platform to find teachers. With the new academic year starting on Aug. 30, many counties and cities, including Taipei City (台北市) and New Taipei City(新北市), still face a shortage of substitute teachers.
In a written response, the MOE stated that to reduce the teacher vacancy rate, it continues to supervise local governments in releasing official teaching positions. The ministry noted that for the 2024 academic year, counties and cities have recruited nearly 5,000 official teachers, adequately supplementing the teaching workforce.
The MOE also urged local governments to actively monitor the hiring situation. If schools still have vacancies for substitute or temporary teachers after the school year begins, full-time teachers within the school can temporarily cover these classes. This measure aims to protect students' right to education.
According to MOE statistics, 30,854 substitute teachers were employed in schools below the high school level during the 2023 academic year. With nearly 5,000 official teachers recruited for the 2024 academic year, the number of substitute teachers is expected to decrease.
The MOE's proactive steps highlight its commitment to ensuring that every classroom has a qualified teacher, thereby maintaining the quality of education. As the new academic year approaches, the effectiveness of these measures will soon be tested.
