Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/19
By: Chen Chih-chung and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) A pension reform proposal to raise the age of retirement for K12

CNA file photo

teachers to 60 by a government committee would make it harder for prospective teachers to find work and increase the average age of teachers, a teachers’ union official said on Thursday.

Although the proposal represents a moderate improvement on a similar one made by the administration of former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), such a reform would only extend the life of the pension program for a few more years before it becomes unsustainable, which means there would have to be further reform down the road, forcing young teachers to work in an environment of instability, said Chang Hsu-cheng (張旭政), president of The National Federation of Teachers Unions, R.O.C.

In addition, the reform proposal does not apply to teachers at private schools, said Lin Po-yi (林伯儀), head of Taiwan Higher Education Union’s organization department.   [FULL  STORY]