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From Pressure to Progress- Assessing the Impact of Taiwan's 108 Curriculum on Teen Mental Health
their time to pursue a large number of extracurricular activities for the archive. Consequently, with
the examination remaining consistent, the ‘learning archive’ only increased difficulty for college
applications and added more stress for students, who believe achieving so much is too much to ask
for. What’s more, the change in the syllabus has also disrupted students’ learning habits.

Even though the contents were reduced massively, the way classes are taught and the
contents of each subject have become, to students, extremely difficult and messy for them to
comprehend. Specifically, especially for those being the first group of students learning in this
curriculum, they found it difficult to adapt to the altered version content in class. This results in a
sense of insecurity and panic as students not only need to deal with the stress for college exams but
also ways to adapt to the new syllabus. Some concluded that the root of stress is the mindset in
Taiwan and the stereotype of attending college, which is ‘university is the basic key for a successful
life’. Ultimately, students believe that though the new curriculum changed a number of things, as
long as the mindset and atmosphere regarding going to college is not changed, academic stress and
depression trends will not be alleviated.

V. Conclusion and Suggestions

(I) Recommendation

In light of the research findings, it is imperative for the Taiwanese government and the
Ministry of Education to undertake strategic methods to create a better learning environment for
Taiwanese students. The team’s recommendations are as follows:
1. Firstly, most importantly, there needs to be a promotion to advocate for a holistic
understanding of success beyond academic achievements. This includes a campaign and
trend aiming to change the fixed-mindset of all Taiwanese to create a supportive, healthy
environment that prioritizes mental health especially for teenage students. By implementing
the changes to the curriculum, the government and MOE will be creating a salutary
condition for students to learn, grow, thrive in, thus advocating for competence and literacy.
2. Next, according to the self-conducted survey, e-learning portfolio contributes largely for the
exacerbated depression trends. To address the issue, the MOE should consider clarifying
and streamlining the portfolio requirements as well as reducing the complexity of the
portfolio. As a majority of students claim the portfolio as too vague and difficult to follow.
3. The curriculum should incorporate a periodic curriculum review for students, teachers, as
well as parents to reflect and provide feedback upon the educational system every year. The
review ensures that the curriculum is up to students’ needs and considers students concerns
regarding their learning environment.

(II) Conclusion

Perceivable from the team’s comprehensive survey, the essay delved into the efficiency of
the newly established 108 curriculum. The survey findings revealed that students not only believe
the new curriculum has not helped them in academic and high school achievements, it also
exacerbated their academic stress in terms of college preparation. Notably, numerous respondents
expressed dissatisfaction and concern regarding the increased stress due to the e-learning portfolio,
alongside the persisting emphasis on examination scores in university admissions. The findings
highlight the cruciality for the MOE to relate to the students’ perspectives as well as to reflect on
ways to improve students’ learning environment, ensuring the curriculum not only reduces
Taiwanese students’ academic pressure but also adequately prepares students for future challenges.
Ultimately, while the 108 curriculum represents a major leap forward in the educational revolution
alongside with the world, the essay and survey findings highlight critical areas needing attention.

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