Control Commission: Former Principal of Liuchiu Junior High School Removed over Workplace Bullying; Educational Authorities Urged to Strengthen Occupational Safety

(Central News Agency reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, June 16) Control Yuan members Yeh Ta-hua and Shih Chin-fang announced today that the Control Yuan censured Su Chuan-chu, former principal of Liuchiu Junior High School, in December last year over allegations of workplace bullying. After investigation, Pingtung County Government has officially removed Su from his principal position in May this year. The Control Yuan emphasized that all levels of educational authorities should learn from this case and fully implement integrity management for education personnel and campus occupational safety mechanisms to protect the rights of teachers and students.

The incident originated from the sudden death of a substitute teacher at Liuchiu Junior High School in Pingtung County due to overwork. In December last year, the Control Yuan found that Principal Su failed to fulfill his duty of care regarding the death and improperly pressured witnesses involved in a judicial case concerning labor insurance benefits for the deceased teacher, constituting workplace bullying. As a result, the Control Yuan passed a censure motion and referred the case to Pingtung County Government for legal action.

Yeh Ta-hua and Shih Chin-fang stated in a press release today that following the public announcement of Su's censure on December 22 last year, Pingtung County Government convened an advisory panel the next day to accept the case. In accordance with the 'Regulations on Investigation and Handling of Inappropriate Conduct by Elementary and Junior High School Principals,' an investigation team was formed. Su was temporarily reassigned to support the Sports Development Center, while a superintendent surnamed Tsai was appointed as acting principal of Liuchiu Junior High School.

The Control Yuan noted that Pingtung County Government subsequently appointed an external investigation team to clarify the facts. On March 3 this year, the team reviewed relevant case files at the Control Yuan and interviewed Su Chuan-chu on March 23, compiling a report submitted to the review committee.

According to the external investigation team, Su failed to fulfill his occupational safety obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He also publicly accused, during a school meeting, a witness in a labor insurance compensation case being heard by the Kaohsiung High Administrative Court of giving false testimony—an act deemed workplace bullying—rendering him unfit for the principal role.

The Pingtung County Principal Review Committee held two meetings in April this year. With 14 members present, a secret ballot resulted in 10 votes in favor and 4 opposed, surpassing the legal threshold of two-thirds majority. It was thus decided that the competent authority should remove Su from his principal position and reassign him to another post. Pingtung County Government officially removed Su from his principal duties starting May 19.

The Control Yuan emphasized that all educational institutions must take this case as a warning and fully implement integrity management for education personnel and campus occupational safety mechanisms to safeguard teachers' employment rights and students' right to education. The Control Yuan will continue to closely monitor how local governments enforce personnel management and occupational safety oversight in schools and urge the Labor Insurance Bureau under the Ministry of Labor to actively investigate the labor insurance compensation in this occupational injury case to protect the legitimate rights of the victim and their family. (Edited by Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150616