The purpose of supplementary and continuing education is to supplement the knowledge of citizens' daily lives, enhance educational levels, impart practical skills, cultivate well-rounded citizens, and promote social progress.
The competent educational administrative authority referred to in this Act is: the Ministry of Education at the central level; the municipal government in municipalities; and the county (city) government at the county (city) level.
Supplementary and continuing education is divided into three categories: national supplementary education, continuing education, and short-term supplementary education; citizens who have surpassed school age and have not received nine years of national education are entitled to national supplementary education; citizens who have received nine years of national education may receive continuing education; citizens who voluntarily wish to enhance their life skills may receive short-term supplementary education.
National supplementary education is implemented by the supplementary schools attached to national elementary schools and national junior high schools. The elementary school supplementary schools are divided into two levels: junior and senior; the junior level corresponds to the first three years of elementary school, with a study period of six months to one year; the senior level corresponds to the last three years of elementary school, with a study period of one year and six months to two years. The junior high school supplementary schools correspond to the junior high school, with a study period of no less than three years.
Continuing education is implemented by senior secondary schools and above according to need, by setting up continuing education schools. Continuing education schools are divided into three categories: senior high schools, vocational continuing education schools, and junior colleges. Each level of continuing education schools must be established by the same or higher level schools. Continuing education schools in remote areas should be strengthened.
Short-term supplementary education is conducted by schools, agencies, organizations, or private individuals and is divided into two types: skill tutoring classes and liberal arts tutoring classes; the study period is from one month to one year and six months.
National supplementary education, senior high school, and vocational continuing education may be conducted in prison or under a camp-style format as needed; the teaching staff, curriculum and teaching materials, performance assessments, study periods, student management, certificate issuance, revocation, abolition, and other related matters shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority in conjunction with relevant authorities.
Those who graduate from junior high school and do not continue their education may engage in part-time vocational continuing education until the age of eighteen; the implementation method shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority.
The establishment, modification, or cessation of national supplementary schools, continuing education schools, and short-term supplementary classes shall comply with the following provisions:
- 1. National elementary and junior high school supplementary schools must be approved by the competent educational administrative authorities at various levels.
- 2. Senior high schools and vocational continuing education schools must be approved by the competent educational administrative authorities at various levels.
- 3. Continuing education schools above junior colleges must be approved by the central competent educational administrative authority.
- 4. Short-term supplementary classes must be approved by the competent educational administrative authorities in municipalities, counties (cities); the conditions and procedures for establishment, modification, cessation, and registration, name, type, and curriculum, study period, facilities and management, qualifications of responsible persons and staff, fees, refund methods and standards, class size, protection of student rights, inspection, evaluation, guidance, rewards, and conditions for abolishing establishment shall be prescribed by the central competent educational administrative authority; relevant management regulations shall be determined by the competent educational administrative authorities in municipalities, counties (cities) in accordance with the aforementioned criteria.
The responsible persons and staff of short-term supplementary classes shall not serve in the following situations:
- 1. Having been convicted of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or child abuse, with a final judgment or being wanted with an unresolved case.
- 2. Having been fined under Article 20 of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act for sexual harassment against others.
- 3. Having engaged in behavior damaging to children's rights, with serious circumstances verified by relevant authorities.
- 4. Having been confirmed by the school's Gender Equality Education Committee as having engaged in sexual assault.
If the responsible person of the short-term supplementary class falls under the above circumstances, the establishment permit shall be revoked; if the staff falls under the above circumstances, they shall be dismissed or terminated. If staff employed by short-term supplementary classes fall under the provisions of the second item, or if they are employed, the reporting, information collection, and inquiry methods for unsuitable educators shall apply.
The protection of student rights as stipulated in the previous item includes that short-term supplementary classes should establish a written contract with students, clearly stipulating their rights and obligations; the format and content of the written contract shall be standardized by the central competent educational administrative authority.
National supplementary schools and continuing education schools at all levels may adopt daily, inter-day, or weekend schedules; the teaching content should adapt to students' learning and societal needs.
The number of teaching hours (periods) per week, curriculum standards, equipment standards, graduation requirements, and internship specifications for teaching subjects at all levels of national supplementary schools and continuing education schools shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority.
Supplementary and continuing education may be conducted through various teaching methods, including correspondence, broadcasting, television, and computer networks, in addition to traditional classroom instruction.
There are no enrollment qualification restrictions for national elementary school supplementary schools. Enrollment qualifications for national junior high school supplementary schools and all levels of continuing education schools are limited to having the required academic qualifications, passing self-study education competency assessments, or possessing equivalent academic abilities. Enrollment methods for national supplementary schools and continuing education schools must be based on passing entrance examinations, selection, registration, distribution, or direct admission; each school shall set its own considerations for these matters. The scope of self-study education competency assessment, the examination authority, the frequency and timing of annual examinations, examination subjects, qualifications, issuance, revocation, abolition, and other related matters, as well as the standards for equivalent academic ability, shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority.
Students of continuing education schools may apply for military service deferment in accordance with the Military Service Act and its related regulations.
Students of national supplementary schools, senior high schools, and vocational continuing education schools who complete their studies with passing grades shall be granted graduation, and the school shall issue a graduation certificate, qualifying them for graduation from schools of the same level and type. Students of continuing education schools above junior college who complete the required credits with passing grades shall be granted graduation, and the school shall issue a graduation certificate (or degree certificate), qualifying them for graduation from schools of the same level and type.
Students of national supplementary schools and continuing education schools at all levels who complete the main subjects of the equivalent grade from schools of the same level and type and pass the examinations may apply for transfer to classes that connect to the same level and type of schools. However, those with age restrictions for enrollment must comply with their regulations.
All levels of national supplementary schools and continuing education schools shall have one principal to oversee school affairs. The principals of supplementary schools attached to each school may be concurrently held by the principals of those schools. Each level of national supplementary schools and continuing education schools shall have one administrative director, who shall be a full-time teacher of the original school, assisting the principal in promoting school affairs. The staffing standards for national supplementary schools and continuing education schools at all levels shall be determined by each school in accordance with the staffing standards set by the competent educational administrative authority.
Teachers of national supplementary schools and continuing education schools attached to each school shall be appointed by the principal from qualified personnel; staff shall be assigned by the principal from existing personnel or employed according to relevant employment regulations. The qualifications, treatment, and protections of faculty and staff in national supplementary schools and continuing education schools at all levels shall comply with the relevant regulations for schools of the same level and type.
Schools above junior college may establish continuing education subjects that correspond to the nature of the school as needed, selecting qualified students; those who complete their studies and pass the grades shall be issued credit certificates for each subject by the school. Students who enroll in the same-level school shall have their credits recognized if the subject names and credit hours match.
Schools above junior college shall, in conjunction with societal needs, promote education for subjects that match the nature of their departments or groups.
National supplementary schools at all levels shall be exempt from tuition fees but may collect other fees; continuing education schools at all levels may charge fees according to those of similar-level schools; the fee standards shall be determined by the competent educational administrative authorities at each level; fees for promoting education in schools above junior college must be approved by the central competent educational administrative authority.
Private national supplementary schools and continuing education schools shall operate in accordance with the provisions of this Act. For matters not specified in this Act, the Private School Law and relevant regulations shall apply.
Short-term supplementary classes may enroll foreigners; the conditions, methods, management, and other necessary compliance matters shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority in conjunction with relevant authorities.
Those who enroll students under the name of a tutoring class or similar classes without legally applying for approval shall be ordered by the competent educational administrative authorities in municipalities or counties (cities) to immediately cease operations, and an announcement shall be made; the equipment used may be confiscated; the responsible person shall be fined between fifty thousand and two hundred fifty thousand New Taiwan Dollars; if they do not comply after being fined, they may be subjected to continuous daily fines. If the fine imposed under the previous item is not paid within the specified period, the competent educational administrative authorities in municipalities or counties (cities) shall enforce it.
Short-term supplementary classes that operate poorly, violate this Act or related laws, or breach the conditions for establishment may be subject to the following sanctions by the competent educational administrative authorities in municipalities or counties (cities), depending on the circumstances:
- 1. Correction.
- 2. Deadline for rectification and improvement.
- 3. Cessation of enrollment.
- 4. Revocation of registration.
Schools established solely for supplementary and continuing education prior to the amendment of this Act shall handle changes and related matters according to the regulations for schools of the same level and type.
The enforcement rules for this Act shall be determined by the central competent educational administrative authority.
This Act shall come into effect on the date of promulgation.
蘊藏許多助人的知識與智慧。