Project Overview
Since the 2018-2019 academic year, substitute teachers at Taoyuan municipal high schools have been employed on full-year contracts. Starting from the 2019-2020 academic year, substitute teachers with administrative duties at municipal elementary and junior high schools who work during summer and winter breaks have been offered full-year contracts (from August 1 to July 31 of the following year). However, substitute teachers without administrative duties were typically contracted from August 27 to July 2 of the following year, resulting in only 10 months and 7 days of employment. This created an unusual “two systems within one city, unequal pay for equal work” phenomenon that contradicted principles of educational fairness and justice.
Taoyuan City Government calculated the additional funding needed to extend contracts to full-year terms for long-term substitute teachers without administrative duties at elementary and junior high schools. The city approved the adjustment to full-year contracts for these teachers (including kindergarten) starting from the 2022-2023 academic year (without retroactive application for existing contracts). This initiative gained support from other counties and cities, leading the Ministry of Education to revise the “Regulations for Appointment of Part-time and Substitute Teachers in Secondary and Elementary Schools” on June 19, 2023. Starting August 1, 2023, all schools must provide complete semester-long or academic year contracts when hiring substitute teachers. Taoyuan City not only protected substitute teachers’ rights but also prompted central government recognition and action on this issue, recognizing that quality student learning environments depend on stable working conditions for teachers.
Implementation Benefits
(1) Project Target Achievements
- Comprehensive Protection of Substitute Teachers’ Rights, Stabilizing Teaching Staff and Enhancing Educational Effectiveness
The implementation of “equal pay for equal work” through complete contract terms properly compensates substitute teachers, providing a stable teaching environment and peace of mind while recognizing their dedication in the classroom, protecting their economic and employment rights. Statistics show that approximately 1,928 substitute teachers at Taoyuan’s public elementary schools, junior high schools, and kindergartens benefited from this policy in the 2022-2023 academic year. Schools can now retain excellent substitute teachers, greatly benefiting the stability of teaching staff and enhancing educational effectiveness. - Enhanced Teacher-Parent-Student Consensus, Creating Mutual Benefits
The Year-Round Employment for Substitute Teachers helps retain more talented educators and reduces teacher turnover rates. This ensures continuity in curriculum delivery and teacher-parent-student communication, further improving Taoyuan City’s education quality, enhancing the educational environment, and making Taoyuan a more livable city.
(2) Project Sustainable Impact
- Taoyuan Leads Six Special Municipalities
Taoyuan City led Taiwan’s six special municipalities by announcing on February 10, 2023, the implementation of full-year contracts for long-term substitute teachers at municipal elementary schools, junior high schools, and public kindergartens starting from the 2022-2023 academic year. Taoyuan’s initiative created a domino effect, with other counties and cities following suit, ultimately influencing central government legislation. - Comprehensive Protection of Substitute Teachers’ Rights, Creating Win-Win Benefits
Substitute teachers are subject to the “Teachers’ Act,” and teaching organizations have long advocated for equal rights and obligations. Complete contract terms properly compensate substitute teachers, provide a stable teaching environment, and give them peace of mind while recognizing their dedication in the classroom, protecting their economic and employment rights.
A comprehensive contract system helps retain more talented educators, reduces substitute teacher turnover, maintains continuous teaching and communication between teachers, parents, and students, thereby improving education quality, providing an enhanced educational environment, and making Taoyuan a more livable city. - Central Government Amends Substitute Teacher Contract Regulations
On June 19, 2023, the Ministry of Education amended the “Regulations for Appointment of Part-time and Substitute Teachers in Secondary and Elementary Schools,” adding Article 5-2. The amendment aims to protect the employment rights of part-time, temporary, and substitute teachers at secondary and elementary schools while considering students’ right to education and responding to public demands. Starting August 1, 2023, schools must provide complete semester or academic year contracts when hiring substitute teachers based on actual needs. This provides legal basis for the Year-Round Employment for Substitute Teachers.