Ministry of Education: Youth Service Preparedness Plan Enhances Safety Response, Not Sending Students to Battlefield

(Taipei, June 13, CNA reporter Chen Chih-chung) In response to social media posts misinterpreting the 'School Youth Service Mobilization Preparedness Classification Plan' as a scheme to mobilize underage students for military service, the Ministry of Education issued a statement today, firmly clarifying that such claims are 'untrue.' The service mobilization plan aims to strengthen campus safety and emergency preparedness education, and does not involve creating student rosters or requiring consent forms.

Some online posts have claimed the plan includes mobilizing youth or students for battlefield deployment. The Ministry of Education reiterated in a press release today that these claims are false.

The Ministry emphasized that it has repeatedly explained in the past that the government has no plans to involve students in military operations, military training, or police/military duties, nor does it intend to send students to the battlefield.

The 'School Youth Service Mobilization Preparedness Classification Plan' is formulated in accordance with the Ministry of the Interior's 'Human Resource Mobilization Preparedness Plan.' It aims to help students develop basic capabilities in disaster evacuation, first aid, self-rescue, and mutual assistance through civic defense education and campus safety drills and training, thereby enhancing campus safety and disaster response capabilities.

Schools are expected to assist primarily in evacuation guidance, community care, public service, and administrative support. Military and police duties are explicitly excluded, and the plan 'absolutely does not involve military operations, military training, or police/military duties.'

Regarding online rumors about 'student registration for mobilization' and 'signing consent forms,' the Ministry clarified that it ceased building youth service data for senior high schools and above on March 3, 2023 (Minguo Year 112), and stopped using the youth service consent form on October 17, 2024 (Minguo Year 113). The current plan does not require schools to create rosters or ask students to submit consent forms.

As for the online discussion about terms such as 'Level 2 and Level 1 heightened alert for the military,' the Ministry explained that these are adjustments made to align with the central government's overall emergency response mechanisms and standard terminology. The purpose is to support urban resilience exercises and disaster response planning, verifying local government administrative coordination and safety response procedures—not to involve students in military duties. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150613