【New News】As TSMC Snags All Talent, Teacher Shortage Expands in New Semester — Even Taipei Metropolis Not Spared

July and August are not only the summer vacation period for students but also the time when teachers apply for transfers and schools search for full-time and substitute teachers. In recent years, multiple recruitment rounds have failed to fill teaching positions, particularly in science subjects, where shortages are most severe. What was once a problem confined to remote and rural schools has now become a widespread issue, affecting even urban areas like Taipei.

Principal A, interviewed for this report, stated that the educational environment has been deteriorating. Teachers are overwhelmed by administrative burdens and unexpected incidents involving students and parents, leaving them exhausted. Even after work hours, they must respond to messages from parents, creating significant mental and physical strain. While the Ministry of Education has proposed improvement measures, the fundamental issue remains: teacher salaries have lost competitiveness compared to other professions. Recent controversies over public sector pension reforms have further discouraged university graduates from pursuing teaching careers. Without adjustments to compensation and working conditions, the exodus of frontline teachers will only intensify.