Teacher Groups Urge Tying Subsidies for Quasi-Public Kindergartens to Labor Conditions; Ministry of Education Agrees to Strengthen Oversight

By reporter Tseng I-Ning, Taipei, Central News Agency, June 15

Teacher organizations today pointed out that abuse incidents in quasi-public kindergartens are occurring frequently and labor conditions need improvement, calling for subsidies to be tied to labor standards. Parent groups also expressed concern that subsidies may protect substandard institutions. Zhang-Liao Wan-Chien, Vice Minister of Education, stated that the ministry will enhance the quality of quasi-public kindergartens and strengthen labor supervision.

The Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee held a public hearing today on amendments to the 'Early Childhood Education and Care Act,' chaired by convener and Kuomintang legislator Lo Ting-Wei. The discussion focused on subsidy systems, parent-teacher conflicts, and how the government can support young families. Legislators Kuo Yu-ching and Chen Pei-yu from the Democratic Progressive Party attended the session.

Jen Huai-ming, Policy Director of the Kaohsiung City Teachers' Union, identified three structural causes behind parent-teacher conflicts in kindergartens. First, teaching staff face immense work pressure. With little buffer time in their schedules and some local governments allowing 'half-class, one teacher' arrangements, teachers are left alone to manage classes, making them more prone to defensive reactions when questioned by parents.

Second, Jen stated that anonymous reports of misconduct often lead to abuse of the system. Union surveys show over 80% of childcare workers believe the current system damages trust between parents and teachers, leading 70% of teachers to adopt defensive teaching practices as a form of passive self-protection. Additionally, consumerist attitudes and collective anxiety in a low-birthrate society—where 'every child is precious'—further intensify tensions.

While third-party mediation mechanisms can help resolve parent-teacher conflicts, Jen emphasized they must be supported by professional talent pools and measures to reduce resource disparities among kindergartens.

Chien Jui-lien, council member of the National Childcare Industry Union, stated that union surveys reveal half of newly hired childcare workers in quasi-public kindergartens earn below standard wages. Over-enrollment and violations of teacher-to-student ratios are common, contributing to high stress levels in childcare settings. The union urges the enforcement of labor inspections and requires kindergartens receiving childcare subsidies to comply with labor standards and undergo financial audits.

Tseng Kuo-yang, council member of the Kaohsiung City Parents Association, also argued that the current subsidy system protects low-quality kindergartens, allowing operators who should have been phased out to survive. He suggested learning from Japan's model: prioritize closing public kindergartens, redirect resources to support private institutions, and provide appropriate subsidies so parents can access nearby childcare.

In response, Vice Minister Zhang-Liao Wan-Chien acknowledged that the original quasi-public policy prioritized enrollment rates. Moving forward, the ministry will consider input from relevant groups to improve kindergarten quality and strengthen labor supervision mechanisms. Regarding rebuilding trust between parents and teachers, he noted that complaint cases have not increased annually based on current data. However, whether to abolish the anonymous reporting system requires further discussion with parent groups and academic experts. The goal is to enhance teaching quality and reduce parent-teacher conflicts. (Edited by Su Lung-chi) 1150615