Article 1


The mission of supplementary education shall be to supplement the general knowledge of the nation's citizens, raise the nation's level of education, disseminate practical skills, foster the development of vigorous and well-rounded citizens, and spur social progress.


Article 2


The meaning of the term "competent educational authority" as used in this Act depends on the context. At the central government level it means the Ministry of Education. At the level of special municipalities, it means the government of the special municipality. At the level of counties or county-level cities, it means the government of the county or county-level city.


Article 3


Supplementary education can be divided into three types: supplementary compulsory education, supplementary advanced education, and short-term tutorial education. Citizens past the school age who have not yet received nine years of compulsory education shall receive supplementary compulsory education. Citizens who have already received nine years of compulsory education may receive supplementary advanced education. Citizens seeking to acquire general knowledge and skills may receive short-term tutorial education.


Article 4


Supplementary compulsory education shall be carried out by supplementary compulsory schools affiliated with an elementary or junior high school. Supplementary compulsory schools affiliated with an elementary school shall be divided into lower and upper divisions. The lower division shall provide the equivalent of the first three years of elementary education, and the term of study shall be six months to one year. The upper division shall provide the equivalent of the last three years of elementary education, and the term of study shall be one year and six months to two years. Supplementary compulsory schools affiliated with junior high schools shall provide the equivalent of a junior high school education, and the term of study shall be no less than three years.


Article 5


Supplementary advanced education is offered as necessary by supplementary schools affiliated with schools at the level of senior secondary school or higher. Supplementary advanced education schools shall be divided into three levels: supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with senior high schools and senior vocational schools; supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with junior colleges; and supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with universities. Supplementary advanced education schools at each level shall be affiliated only with schools in the same category and at the same level or higher.


Article 6


Short-term tutorial education may be provided by schools, government organizations, foundations, or private parties. Short-term tutorial schools shall be divided into two categories: non-academic short-term tutorial schools and academic short-term tutorial schools. Courses shall last from one month to one year and six months.


Article 7


Supplementary compulsory education, and supplementary advanced education at the senior high school and senior vocational school levels, may be provided when necessary to persons under incarceration or serving in the armed forces. The central educational authority shall, in consultation with the related competent authorities, prescribe the procedures by which decisions are to be made regarding: teachers; curriculum and teaching materials; performance evaluation; term of study; administration of students' enrolment status; the issuance, revocation, and voidance of certificates; and related matters.


Article 8


Part-time supplementary advanced education, at the senior vocational school level, may be provided to junior high school graduates who do not continue their schooling, until such students reach their 18th birthday. The method for providing this type of education shall be prescribed by the central educational authority.


Article 9


When a supplementary compulsory school, supplementary advanced education school, or short-term tutorial center is established, amends its registration, or is closed, each of the following regulations must be observed:
1. In the case of supplementary schools affiliated with elementary and junior high schools, the approval of a designated educational authority at the appropriate level shall be required.
2. In the case of supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with senior high or senior vocational schools, the approval of the designated educational authority at the appropriate level shall be required.
3. In the case of supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with institutions of education at the level of junior college or higher, the approval of the central designated educational authority shall be required.
4. In the case of short-term tutorial centers, the approval of a designated educational authority in the appropriate special municipality, county, or county-level city shall be required. The central designated educational authority shall adopt regulations to provide for the following: the conditions and procedures for the establishment, amendment of registration, closure, and accreditation of such schools; their names, subject areas and curricula, and durations of study; their facilities and management; the eligibility requirements for their responsible persons, faculty, and staff; the standards for and method of collecting and refunding fees; the number of students per class and procedures for the protection of students' rights; inspections, assessments, guidance, and awards for such schools; the conditions for revoking their establishment; and other matters for compliance. Related regulations for the management of such schools shall be adopted by the designated educational authority of the appropriate special municipality, county, or county-level city in accordance with the aforementioned regulations of the central designated authority.
A person to whom any of the following circumstances applies may not serve as a responsible person or a faculty or staff member as referred to in subparagraph 4 of the preceding paragraph:
1. The person has been convicted by a final and unappealable court judgment of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or child abuse, or is subject to an outstanding arrest warrant for any such act.
2. The person has received a final and unappealable administrative fine for the sexual harassment of another in accordance with Article 20 of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act.
3. The person has engaged in improper conduct that is injurious to the rights and interests of a child and of a serious nature, and the conduct has been verified by the relevant authority.
4. The person has committed sexual assault, confirmed through investigation by school Gender Equity Education Committee.
If any of the circumstances of the preceding paragraph applies to the responsible person of a short-term tutorial center, the center's establishment permit shall be revoked. If any of the circumstances of the preceding paragraph applies to a faculty or staff member of a short-term tutorial center, that person shall have their contract terminated or be dismissed from employment.
When a circumstance under paragraph 2 applies to a faculty or staff member currently employed on a contracted or regular basis by a short-term tutorial center, or prior to the contracted hiring of a faculty or staff member by a short-term tutorial center, reporting, information collection, and inquiries shall be carried out, applying mutatis mutandis the provisions of the Regulations Regarding Educator Misconduct Inquiry, Information Collection and Reports.
Protection of students' rights, as used in paragraph 1, subparagraph 4, includes the requirement that the short-term tutorial center shall enter into a written contract with each student, specifying the rights and obligations of both parties. The central designated educational authority shall produce a standard contract template to govern the format and content of the contract, as well the matters required for and prohibited from inclusion in the contract.


Article 10


Supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools at each level may offer daily weekday courses, non-daily weekday courses, or weekend courses. Course content shall be designed to meet the educational requirements of the students and the needs of society.


Article 11


For supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools at each level, the central educational authority shall prescribe the courses to be taught, number of hours (class periods) per week, curriculum standards, facilities standards, graduation requirements, and the rules governing practicum coursework.


Article 12


In addition to regular teaching methods, supplementary education may also be provided via such means as correspondence, radio, television, and computer networks.


Article 13


There shall be no admission requirements for supplementary compulsory schools affiliated with elementary schools. Admission requirements for supplementary compulsory schools affiliated with junior high schools, and for supplementary advanced education schools at all levels, shall be limited to requiring that entrants possess prescribed academic qualifications, or have passed an equivalency examination, or have attained an equivalent level of education.
To enroll in any supplementary compulsory school or a supplementary advanced education school, a student must do one or more of the following: pass an entrance examination; obtain admission by a special screening test; complete a registration process; receive a placement; or obtain guaranteed admission. Pertinent guidelines shall be adopted separately by each school.
The central educational authority shall prescribe the following particulars regarding the equivalency tests referred to in paragraph 1: the scope of the tests; the organization to administer the tests; the number of tests to be held each year, and the time of each test; the subjects to be tested; eligibility requirements; issuance, voidance, and revocation of certificates; and other related matters. The same authority shall also prescribe equivalency criteria.


Article 14


When a student at a supplementary advanced education school applies for a military draft deferment, the application shall be handled in accordance with the Military Service Act and related regulations.


Article 15


Any student who completes, with passing grades, courses at a supplementary compulsory school or a supplementary advanced education school which is affiliated with a senior high school or senior vocational school, the student shall be permitted to graduate, and shall receive a graduation certificate from the school. This certificate shall confer the same education level, as that attained by graduating from a [regular] school, in the same category and at the same level.
Any student who completes with passing grades the prescribed course credits at a supplementary advanced education school at the level of junior college or higher shall be allowed to graduate, and shall receive a graduation certificate (or diploma) from the school. This graduation certificate (or diploma) shall confer the same status as that attained by graduating from a [regular] school in the same category and at the same level.


Article 16


A student who, at any level of supplementary compulsory school or supplementary advanced education school, completes the main coursework taught in the same grade level, in a [regular] school, in the same category and at the same level, and receives passing grades, may apply to transfer into an appropriate class at a [regular] school in the same category and at the same level. However, where admission is subject to age restrictions, these restrictions shall apply.


Article 17


Supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools at each level shall have one principal, who shall take the overall responsibility for all school affairs. The principal of, the [regular] school, with which a supplementary compulsory school or supplementary advanced education school is affiliated may serve concurrently as principal of the affiliated supplementary school.
Supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools at each level shall have one assistant principal, who shall assist the principal in handling school affairs. The position of assistant principal shall be taken as a concurrent assignment by a person working full-time as an instructor at [the regular] school.
Each supplementary compulsory school and supplementary advanced education school at each level shall prepare a staffing chart in accordance with staffing standards adopted by the competent educational authority at the appropriate level.


Article 18


The teachers at supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools shall be qualified persons hired in accordance with the law by the principal. Administrative staff shall be hired via one of the following two procedures: (1) selected by the principal from among staff currently employed [at the regular school] to serve concurrently at the supplementary school; or (2) hired in accordance with acts governing the hiring of personnel.
For supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools at each level, regulations governing [regular] schools in the same category and at the same level shall be applied in determining the qualifications, compensation, and benefits of teaching and administrative and staff.


Article 19


A school at the level of junior college or higher may, as necessary, establish supplementary advanced education courses equivalent to the level of coursework at its own school, and select qualified students [to attend]. For students who complete the coursework with passing grades, the school shall issue a credit certificate to document that the subjects have been completed. When a student transfers into a school from another school at the same level, the school accepting the transfer student shall consider recognizing previously completed course credits where the names of the subjects and the number of credits for those subjects are the same in the department admitting the student as in the student's previous school.


Article 20


A school at the level of junior college or higher shall offer extension education programs in areas where there is a social need for such education and the school has a department or section which offers instruction that is similar in nature.


Article 21


Supplementary compulsory schools at each level shall not charge tuition fees, but may consider charging other fees. Supplementary advanced education schools at each level may charge fees which commensurate with those charged by [regular] schools in the same category and at the same level, with said fees to be prescribed by the competent educational authority at the appropriate level. Fees charged by schools,　at the level of junior college or higher, for continuing education programs, must be approved by the central educational authority.


Article 22


Supplementary compulsory schools and supplementary advanced education schools affiliated with private schools shall be established and operated pursuant to this Act. Matters not set forth in this Act shall be handled pursuant to the Private School Act and pertinent acts and regulations.


Article 23


Short-term tutorial schools may recruit and admit foreign students. The central educational authority shall, in consultation with the related competent authorities, prescribe regulations governing the conditions and methods of recruitment, the management thereof, and other requirements.


Article 24


Where a party recruits and accepts students to attend a short-term supplementary compulsory school or a school similar to a short-term supplementary compulsory school without applying for accreditation in accordance with the law, the competent educational authority under the special municipality, county, or county-level city where the violation occurs shall order the school to close, and shall issue public notice of suspension of its operations. Equipment and fixtures used by the school may be confiscated, and its responsible person shall be assessed an administrative fine of not less than New Taiwan Dollars 50,000 and not more than New Taiwan Dollars 250,000. If, after a fine has been assessed, the party in question still refuses to close the school as required by law, fines may continue to be assessed daily.
Where an administrative fine assessed pursuant to the preceding provisions is not paid within the specified time period, the competent educational authority in the special municipality, county, or county-level city where the violation occurs shall have its order enforced by compulsory execution.


Article 25


In the event that a short-term tutorial school is poorly managed, violates this Act or other pertinent acts and regulations, or violates the conditions of its establishment permit, the competent educational authority in the special municipality, county, or county-level city where the problem occurs may render any of the following dispositions, as the facts of the case merit:
1. issue an official reprimand;
2. order the school to take corrective action within a specified time period;
3. order a halt to recruitment of students; and/or
4. revoke the school's accreditation.


Article 26


For independent supplementary schools which that were established and began operating before the amendment to this Act went into force, registration updates and related matters shall be handled pursuant to the provisions applying to schools in the same category and at the same level.


Article 27


Enforcement rules for this Act shall be adopted by a the central competent educational authority.


Article 28


This Act shall enter into force from the date of promulgation.

This Act is enacted in Chinese, which shall prevail in case of any discrepancy between the English translation and the Chinese original.