Though far from desirable, regulations banning political activity on campuses ahead of elections are the result of Taiwan’s idiosyncratic history. Strangely enough, they are also the lesser of two evilsWith the January elections approaching, the nation’s universities received a reminder from the Ministry of Education earlier this month that campuses must respect certain rules regarding political activity to ensure neutrality.
For academics and rights activists who look at the regulations from a strictly Western, liberal perspective, the limitations imposed on campus might sound like echoes of the nation’s authoritarian past — and they do — but not necessarily for the reasons that immediately come to mind.
First, let’s take a look at the restrictions contained in Article 6 of the Basic Education Act (教育基本法), which lays out the principles about “educational neutrality” and reinforces the need for “peace and quiet” from learning environments during elections.
Under the rules, schools may not help spread word or beliefs of particular political parties and organizations in charge of administrative functions cannot force administrative personnel, teachers or students to participate in any activities held by political (or religious) parties.
My unsigned editorial, published today in the Taipei Times, continues here. Below is a transcription of the MOE letter sent to National Sun Yat-Sen University on Oct. 6, provided to me by a source.
檔 號：
保存年限：
教育部 函
地址：10051臺北市中正區中山南路5號
傳 真：(02)23977022
聯絡人：丁士芳
電 話：(02)77365938
受文者：國立中山大學
發文日期：中華民國100年10月6日
發文字號：臺人(二)字第1000179520號
速別：最速件
密等及解密條件或保密期限：
附件：無附件
裝
主旨：各項公職人員競選活動期間，請確實遵照教育基本法第6
條揭櫫之教育中立原則，加強維護選舉期間校園學習環境
安寧，並依說明事項配合辦理，請 查照。
說明：
一、查教育基本法第6條規定：「教育應本中立原則。學校不
得為特定政治團體或宗教信仰從事宣傳，主管教育行政機
關及學校亦不得強迫學校行政人員、教師及學生參加任何
政治團體或宗教活動。」。
二、請利用學校各種集會及相關教學機會，向教職員工生宣導
民主法治及淨化選舉風氣之理念。另各項公職人員競選活
動期間，請確實遵照教育基本法第6條揭櫫之教育中立原
則，學校教職員工生不得從事下列活動：
(一)邀請候選人至學校演講、座談及其他助選造勢活動。
(二)為候選人在校園內張貼、散發海報、標語或傳單等競選
物品。
(三)教職員工生亦不得於上班或勤務時間，從事政黨或其他
政治團體之活動；亦不得從事助選活動。下班後從事上
開活動，亦應自我克制。
(四)其他有違教育中立及影響校園學習環境安寧之助選活動
。
三、前項所稱「公職人員競選活動期間」係依公職人員選舉罷
免法及其施行細則等相關規定，由主管選舉委員會規定之
。
正本：各直轄市政府教育局、桃園縣政府教育局及各縣市政府、各公私立大專校院、
本部中部辦公室
副本：本部各單位(不含中部辦公室)
100/10/06
電子公文
16:35:33
交換章
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I wouldn't be surprised if there's a statue of Dr Sun Yat-Sen and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek sitting under the KMT emblem of "the 12-ray sun in the blue sky" in the university quadrangle since the university was founded some 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat an irony.
D'you know the quadrangle is where the graduates start their campus walk?
Another irony.
Lewis
How come no comment function on the Taipei Times website? Wouldn't that be more fun?
ReplyDeleteYou give a good explanation, but this still doesn't seem right. It's one thing to ban administrators from forcing students and subordinates into political activities, but why not leave it at that? Why not explicitly allow student-organized political functions? Keeping campuses quiet and neutral feeling is not a bad idea, of course. But candidates should by all means be making speeches on campuses, because that's the best way of encouraging people to think about the issues and ask questions.
At the very least, #3 in the letter you cite should specify that it doesn't apply to students -- otherwise it suggests that a group of students can't even go to an off-campus rally during the school day. And the "self-restraint" clause you mention is ridiculous.
One interesting wrinkle you didn't mention is the voting age in Taiwan -- 20. In the US and Canada, basically all university students can vote, so maybe political activity on campus seems more natural there. But still I think this law should be changed.