Student Groups Call for Lifting University Dormitory Curfews, KMT and DPP Legislators Express Support
Taiwanese student groups are advocating for the lifting of university dormitory curfews, a call supported by both Democratic Progressive Party and Kuomintang legislators, who argue that universities should respect students' self-management capabilities as adults.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 12:27
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 13:01 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 13:05 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, April 29, Central News Agency reporter Wang Cheng-chung) The Taiwan Student Union and Chung Yuan Christian University Student Association today held a press conference, calling on the Ministry of Education and major universities to fully lift dormitory curfews and implement adult autonomy for university students. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wu Szu-yao stated that since the law recognizes university students as adults, schools should grant them the ability to manage themselves. Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ko Ru-chun pointed out that dormitory curfews are unreasonable and unfair.
Chen Yu-jen, Chairman of the Taiwan Student Union; Huang Liang-teng, Chairman of the Student Rights Committee; Shih Yu-feng, President of the Chung Yuan Christian University Student Association; DPP legislator Wu Szu-yao; and KMT legislator Ko Ru-chun, among others, jointly held a press conference today at the Legislative Yuan, calling on the Ministry of Education and major universities to fully lift dormitory curfews and implement adult autonomy for university students.
Chen Yu-jen pointed out that a review of the current status of dormitory curfews in national universities and colleges found that a considerable number of schools still retain dormitory curfew policies. Curfews refer to schools requiring students to return to their dormitories before a specified time through methods such as roll calls, fixed locking times, and only allowing entry but not exit. If students return late, schools would then notify parents and impose measures such as demerits or expulsion from the dormitory.
Chen Yu-jen stated that this is very disadvantageous for students. Students rushing back to the dormitory before curfew significantly increase their risks on the road, especially for economically disadvantaged students who often need to work part-time outside of school to supplement family income. If they exceed the time due to work, they face being expelled from the dormitory and forced to find alternative housing outside of school, increasing their financial burden.
Chen Yu-jen mentioned that dormitory curfews, for university students who are already adults, are tantamount to imprisonment-like restrictions. Students living outside of school or at home can freely adjust their time, but students living in dormitories cannot even buy late-night snacks or breakfast. He called on the Ministry of Education to address the issue of dormitory curfews and implement campus equality.
Huang Liang-teng explained that currently, 69 universities and colleges in Taiwan still maintain a dormitory curfew system. 67.4% of private universities and colleges have a curfew system, while 14.9% of public universities and colleges have curfews, mostly vocational or technical schools. Some private university presidents even claim that dormitory curfews are a characteristic of their educational philosophy.
Huang Liang-teng mentioned that the Taiwan Student Union believes that dormitory curfews are a control method that infantilizes university students. They advocate for the complete abolition of dormitory curfews, allowing adult students to freely enter and exit dormitories using access cards and student IDs, which already meets safety requirements.
Wu Szu-yao stated that she promoted the 'New Dormitory Movement' in 2018, where the government invested budgets to upgrade dormitory hardware in universities nationwide, but there is still room for improvement in schools' dormitory management thinking. Dormitory safety should involve access control systems, sufficient lighting, and a comprehensive reporting system, rather than restricting students' freedom of entry and exit. The Civil Code has lowered the age of adulthood to 18, and since the law recognizes university students as adults, schools should grant university students full trust and self-management capabilities.
Ko Ru-chun pointed out that prohibition does not mean safety. Dormitory curfews are outdated, unreasonable, unfair, and not necessarily safe practices. Such a 'parental' management philosophy is no longer necessary in today's technologically advanced world. University students are already adults, so why do schools still use underage management methods to restrict their freedom? The Ministry of Education should supervise universities to strengthen students' safety awareness and education, and cultivate modern citizens who are self-responsible, rather than blindly obedient students. (Editor: Chang Jo-yao) 1150429
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(Taipei, April 29, Central News Agency reporter Wang Cheng-chung) The Taiwan Student Union and Chung Yuan Christian University Student Association today held a press conference, calling on the Ministry of Education and major universities to fully lift dormitory curfews and implement adult autonomy for university students. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wu Szu-yao stated that since the law recognizes university students as adults, schools should grant them the ability to manage themselves. Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ko Ru-chun pointed out that dormitory curfews are unreasonable and unfair.
Chen Yu-jen, Chairman of the Taiwan Student Union; Huang Liang-teng, Chairman of the Student Rights Committee; Shih Yu-feng, President of the Chung Yuan Christian University Student Association; DPP legislator Wu Szu-yao; and KMT legislator Ko Ru-chun, among others, jointly held a press conference today at the Legislative Yuan, calling on the Ministry of Education and major universities to fully lift dormitory curfews and implement adult autonomy for university students.
Chen Yu-jen pointed out that a review of the current status of dormitory curfews in national universities and colleges found that a considerable number of schools still retain dormitory curfew policies. Curfews refer to schools requiring students to return to their dormitories before a specified time through methods such as roll calls, fixed locking times, and only allowing entry but not exit. If students return late, schools would then notify parents and impose measures such as demerits or expulsion from the dormitory.
Chen Yu-jen stated that this is very disadvantageous for students. Students rushing back to the dormitory before curfew significantly increase their risks on the road, especially for economically disadvantaged students who often need to work part-time outside of school to supplement family income. If they exceed the time due to work, they face being expelled from the dormitory and forced to find alternative housing outside of school, increasing their financial burden.
Chen Yu-jen mentioned that dormitory curfews, for university students who are already adults, are tantamount to imprisonment-like restrictions. Students living outside of school or at home can freely adjust their time, but students living in dormitories cannot even buy late-night snacks or breakfast. He called on the Ministry of Education to address the issue of dormitory curfews and implement campus equality.
Huang Liang-teng explained that currently, 69 universities and colleges in Taiwan still maintain a dormitory curfew system. 67.4% of private universities and colleges have a curfew system, while 14.9% of public universities and colleges have curfews, mostly vocational or technical schools. Some private university presidents even claim that dormitory curfews are a characteristic of their educational philosophy.
Huang Liang-teng mentioned that the Taiwan Student Union believes that dormitory curfews are a control method that infantilizes university students. They advocate for the complete abolition of dormitory curfews, allowing adult students to freely enter and exit dormitories using access cards and student IDs, which already meets safety requirements.
Wu Szu-yao stated that she promoted the 'New Dormitory Movement' in 2018, where the government invested budgets to upgrade dormitory hardware in universities nationwide, but there is still room for improvement in schools' dormitory management thinking. Dormitory safety should involve access control systems, sufficient lighting, and a comprehensive reporting system, rather than restricting students' freedom of entry and exit. The Civil Code has lowered the age of adulthood to 18, and since the law recognizes university students as adults, schools should grant university students full trust and self-management capabilities.
Ko Ru-chun pointed out that prohibition does not mean safety. Dormitory curfews are outdated, unreasonable, unfair, and not necessarily safe practices. Such a 'parental' management philosophy is no longer necessary in today's technologically advanced world. University students are already adults, so why do schools still use underage management methods to restrict their freedom? The Ministry of Education should supervise universities to strengthen students' safety awareness and education, and cultivate modern citizens who are self-responsible, rather than blindly obedient students. (Editor: Chang Jo-yao) 1150429
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio/video of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.