Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian assured teachers around the country Thursday that the government will not promote education reforms at the expense of their rights and welfare benefits.
Addressing a ceremony to honor senior and outstanding teachers in connection with Teachers' Day, which falls on Saturday, Chen said teachers' rights and benefits will never be compromised in the process of education reforms.
He also urged teachers to play an active role in initiating various reform programs instead of passively carrying out projects laid out by others. "It is also my hope that our society will respect teachers' professional dignity and status," Chen said.
Some 50,000 teachers around the island are expected to take to the streets Saturday to express their concern about the education reform measures and assert their right to form unions, and Chen said he looks forward to seeing the demonstration proceed smoothly and peacefully.
After nearly eight years of extensive debate, Chen went on, many education reform programs have finally been put into practice. "These measures have inevitably had a strong impact on teaching work and class management," Chen said, adding that he hopes all schoolteachers will try to adapt to the new situation and overcome the challenges it brings.