Food safety tops Taiwan schoolchildren concerns

2015/12/15

A large percentage of primary and secondary schoolers in Taiwan are worried about the quality of the food they eat, according to a survey released Dec. 13 by Taipei City-based Child Welfare League Foundation.

Polling 2,244 students in grades five through 12 between Sept. 16 and Nov. 3, the survey found 52 percent of local youths deemed food safety the top issue for the ROC government to tackle. They also voiced concerns about the lack of variety and limited nutrition in school lunches.

Foundation CEO Chen Li-ju said the results reflect saturated media coverage of recent cooking oil and tainted food scandals. “The government must continue strengthening food inspections and risk management measures, as well as prosecuting violators of the nation’s food and sanitation laws.”

Other pressing social problems as identified by respondents include school security, 42.9 percent, and insufficient student participation in school administration, 40.2 percent—numbers indicating increasing student awareness of their personal environment.

“Incidents of violence against schoolchildren in recent years have heightened fears of potential threats,” Chen said. “Although the youth of Taiwan are making their voices heard across a wide spectrum of areas, they also want a say in school affairs like the formulation of regulations and punitive measures.”

The remaining top 10 concerns are traffic safety, 39.7 percent; excessive schoolwork, 39.4 percent; Internet bullying, 37.6 percent; bullying and discrimination on campuses, 36.4 percent; poor quality of TV shows and media reports, 34.5 percent; violation of privacy by adults, 33.6 percent; and insufficient participation in drafting youth-related benefits and welfare programs, 29.8 percent.

Chen urged all candidates from Taiwan’s major parties contesting the Jan. 16, 2016, ROC presidential election to pay close attention when formulating youth policies. “The issues of bullying, campus democracy, privacy invasion and traffic safety are unrepresented in their political platforms,” she said.

“Young people are Taiwan’s future. We have to create a better world for them and including them in the policymaking process is the best way forward.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240132&ctNode=2194&mp=9)