Taipei, February 17 (CNA) – The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan is set to launch a trial measure in March, allowing high schools to grant students days off to address mental health concerns. This initiative aims to raise students’ awareness of their emotional well-being, particularly during periods of academic stress, the MOE stated.
As of Friday, 40 schools across Taiwan have expressed interest in participating in the trial, according to an MOE news release. The “physical and mental adjustment leave” permits students to take up to three days off per semester, with the option of a half-day or a full day. However, this leave is not applicable during academic assessments and exam periods.
Given that the majority of high school and vocational school students are minors, they must provide proof of consent from their parents or guardians when applying for a mental health break, the ministry explained.
The MOE anticipates that, following feedback from the trial run, the measure could be formally implemented in high schools and vocational schools starting from the next academic year in August at the earliest.
Notably, National Taiwan University and 42 other universities in Taiwan have already implemented mental health days, allowing students to take up to five such days per semester.
This precedent led to a petition by the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy (TYAD), urging the MOE to extend mental health leave to high schools and junior high schools. The TYAD reported receiving over 3,000 signatures in one day.
Responding to the petition, the MOE informed CNA that plans to introduce mental health leave for secondary schools were already underway in 2022. In May 2023, it consulted with local governments on the matter and issued official guidelines for schools offering leave based on mental health. The ministry emphasized the importance of schools not discriminating against students applying for mental health leave and providing necessary assistance.