According to reports by China Time News Network, United News Network, and other Taiwanese media on October 18, high schools in Taiwan issued“Youth Service consent forms” to solicit students’ willingness to serve, and parents believed that they wanted to send their children to war, the news caused a great uproar. In response, Taiwan’s top defense official, Wellington Koo, said in an interview with Taiwan’s legislature on the 17th that the “Youth Service Agreement” is not very meaningful and should be abolished, taiwan’s education authorities announced on the afternoon of the 17th to cancel this practice.
Zheng yingyao, head of Taiwan’s education department, with photo from Taiwan’s United News Network
According to a report by Taiwan’s United News Network, some Taiwanese media said recently that high schools in Taiwan have issued“Youth attendance consent forms”, note: “In accordance with the ‘Civil Defense Mobilization preparation law’ and in line with the needs of Local Government School Youth Service brigades, and on the principle of not affecting students’ studies, participating in school youth service,” Suspected mobilization of high school students during the war to voluntarily participate in logistics work, causing parents to doubt.
Taiwan’s education department said in a statement on the 17th that the youth attendance mobilization program is aimed at enhancing school safety and resilience, and that it attaches importance to students’ willingness to participate and educational significance. It has now reviewed and adjusted the contents of the program, and stop the use of“Participation in the school youth service (including personal data provided) consent,” the future implementation of relevant plans, will develop a complete and clear explanation, to reduce public concern.
Taiwan’s education department also mentioned that it had previously invited relevant units to review and amend the service scope of school youth, it is limited to activities such as“Assisting local governments in conducting refugee guidance,”“Community care,”“Public services,” and“Administrative support,” not including the duties of military and police units, the completion of personnel training and drills in the school education stage can play the role of campus safety, self-help and rescue in the event of disaster.
Chen Wellington Koo, head of Taiwan’s Defense Department, was also asked about the “Youth Service Agreement” in the legislature on the 17th. He said he was not engaged in military service, according to reports by China Time News, the aim of the education and training is that these students can help themselves and each other when Taiwan is facing a major disaster or emergency. He personally believes that the“Youth attendance agreement” is not very meaningful and should be abolished.