In an attempt to enhance moral education for high school students, the Ministry of Education has decided to list the "Four Books of Confucianism" as required reading in the official high school curriculum. However, the decision has sparked criticism from civil groups, who said that the addition will only increase unnecessary burden for the students.

It took the tenures of three education ministers to amend the high school literature syllabus, which was finalized last September and will be implemented next year.

In light of a recent spate of campus bullying cases, however, the Ministry of Education established a "Chinese culture basic education committee" last month.

The Taiwanese Teachers Alliance and Taiwan North are now protesting the committee's decision to make classes on the Four Books of Confucianism compulsory, rather than electives.

In response, the MOE says that the amendments of the literature syllabus and Chinese culture education were conducted separately, and that the ratio of classical Chinese literature classes would not increase despite the change.

The MOE intends to hold public hearings on the issue next month, but controversy will likely continue due to the presence of two legislators who are also members of a "save Chinese literature" alliance on the MOE's committee.