#METOO/Taoyuan probes special ed assistant for alleged sexual harassment

Taipei, Feb. 26 (CNA) Taoyuan City Government said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into allegations that a special education teaching assistant at an elementary school bullied students and engaged in sexual misconduct.

In a statement, the Taoyuan Department of Education said the assistant resigned earlier this month after being suspended from duty in January and that an external committee is reviewing the case.

The government response came after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers and a Taoyuan City councilor held a press conference to make the incident public.

City councilor Huang Chiung-hui (黃瓊慧) and legislators Kuo Yu-ching (郭昱晴) and Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴) held a press conference where they revealed complaints about the assistant's misconduct and the principal's alleged retaliation against whistleblowers.

According to Huang, the assistant was accused of looking at students' underwear in September 2024 and mocking a disabled student a month later, but the school only reported the individual in January 2025.

Huang said after she disclosed the allegations online on Feb. 12, the assistant resigned, but the principal allegedly retaliated against parents, students and teachers who spoke out.

In response, the department said it is also looking into whether the school failed to report the incidents in a timely manner, promising further action if violations are confirmed.