Taiwan celebrates Teachers' Day with rituals and policy discussions

Schools and local governments across Taiwan are conducting various activities to celebrate Teachers' Day, ranging from traditional rituals to policy discussions regarding the teaching profession.

In Keelung, Mayor Hsu Kuo-liang presided over an awards ceremony honoring 242 educators, including recipients of the prestigious Shiduo Award. To support staff, the city issued gift vouchers to nearly 4,000 employees and announced plans to reduce class sizes in public elementary schools from 29 to 28 students per class to alleviate teaching burdens.

Educational experts at a seminar hosted by National Taiwan Normal University addressed systemic challenges, including teacher shortages and the impact of high salaries in the technology sector drawing talent away from education. Professor Huang Kun-hui emphasized the need for a balance between authority and rights in schools to prevent excessive litigation and improve the professional environment.

On a local level, various schools held commemorative events. Students at Sanxin Home Economic and Commercial High School and Gushan Elementary School performed traditional rituals such as ‘Shuxiu’ (offering gifts to teachers) to honor their instructors. Other schools organized tea ceremonies, food deliveries, and creative art competitions to express gratitude.