Survey: Student Teachers Hesitant to Enter Profession; 80% Worry About Complaints, 70% Feel Disrespected

The National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) Student Union released a survey today highlighting the reasons behind student teachers'' reluctance to join the education workforce. According to the findings, 80.1% of respondents worry about being complained against or investigated, 70.6% believe teachers lack social respect, and 69.9% find the salary unattractive. Amid concerns over a growing teacher shortage, the survey of 326 students revealed that while many see a teaching certificate as career security, external pressures are a major deterrent. Furthermore, 92.9% of student teachers believe salaries should be increased, and 71.5% emphasized the need for stable recruitment of permanent teachers. Hou Chun-liang, chairman of the National Federation of Teachers Unions (NFTU), noted that the current environment is characterized by low pay and high risk of complaints, suggesting that internship stipends should be raised to match the minimum wage.