TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Education (台北市教育局) exposed a startling revelation on Monday (March 3): several companies masquerading as management consulting firms have been illegally offering spiritual courses without registering as short-term tutoring centers. Since 2019, authorities have imposed fines totaling NT$750,000 on three such cases, with investigations ongoing to curb the practice.
Lin Yueh-chang (林岳璋), an official from the Department of Education, noted that viral videos by influencers spotlighted these courses and their controversies, raising public awareness. Consequently, the department received numerous complaints and proactively searched for these courses online. Earlier this year, they inspected 16 institutions, finding 12 smaller ones in violation of the Supplementary and Continuing Education Act (補習及進修教育法). Four others, found without active classes, received guidance to apply for legal registration.
Lin highlighted the challenges in enforcement, stating that the course schedules and locations are irregular, and information is often concealed, making it challenging for consumers to arrive on-site during illegal activities or provide evidence. Despite these hurdles, the department has identified three cases so far, imposing the maximum fine of NT$250,000 due to the many students involved.
Taipei's Department of Health (台北市衛生局) emphasized that spiritual courses are not equivalent to psychological counseling. They urged the public to seek assistance from qualified psychological institutions and counselors for interpersonal, workplace, or mental health issues.
