Draftees to have option of finishing college, military service in 4 years
ROC Central News Agency
06/24/2023 01:18 PM
Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Taiwanese men born after December 31, 2004 will be able to finish both college and their compulsory military service within four years starting September this year, the Ministry of Education said Friday.
The government announced last year that the length of compulsory military service would be extended from four months to one year starting in 2024 and instructed the ministry to investigate how to implement a "flexible" tertiary education system for draftees that wouldn't leave them at a disadvantage as they and their peers begin pursuing careers.
On June 21, the ministry issued a directive to universities and colleges, instructing them to adopt the policy before school starts in September, to allow draftees to take advantage of the "special conscription channel."
As part of the new policy, draftees will file a request with local authorities in February or September to undergo a physical checkup for conscription and participate in the draw that will determine the type of service they will do, before they then begin their conscription in the next upcoming summer or winter break.
Eligible draftees will have to apply to suspend their studies at least one month before the end of the semester, obtain proof of this from their school, and send it to their local competent authority, that will then make sure draftees receive their conscription notices at least 10 days before they are scheduled to arrive at boot camps.
To ensure draftees that use this program are able to graduate alongside those who do not have to complete military service, schools will be required to raise the limit on the number of credits draftees can earn per semester, and will not be able to charge them extra tuition for the extra credits, according to the education ministry directive.
Schools should also offer summer courses and the option for draftees to earn extra credits by taking extra classes at different schools, according to the directive.
The Education Ministry noted that the new policy will only apply to draftees, not those that plan to take the voluntary military service route.
As the first batch of eligible draftees has yet to enter college, plans for students studying their master's or doctorate degrees have not yet been formulated.
The education ministry added that the final details will be confirmed in an announcement by the Ministry of the Interior.
(By Chen Chih-chung and Sean Lin)
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