Premier Chen Chien-jen on Thursday received a briefing from the Ministry of Education regarding a plan and complementary measures to reduce the disparity between the costs of attending public versus private schools. The premier said the cultivation of talent is chief among the many important tasks of government administration. The plan, approved Thursday, thus follows in the footsteps of the existing national child care policy for ages 0 to 6, toward the development of a national youth care policy for ages 0 to 22. By reducing shortfalls in education caused by urban-rural divides and economic inequalities, the plan will enable all young people to receive proper instruction.
The government prioritizes investment of resources in the next generation, the premier said. For children ages 0 to 6, the government has increased childrearing allowances, expanded affordable childhood education and care services, and reduced student-teacher ratios in preschools. It also continues to upgrade and improve campus environments at the high school level and below. From elementary to high school, the government strives to advance equal education rights and ensure that rural and economically disadvantaged students are provided for.
The premier explained that the plan offers comprehensive subsidies to ensure free tuition for all students at senior and vocational high schools. To expand the level of care for students ages 18 to 22 in tertiary education, the government will provide a fixed-sum waiver to alleviate the higher costs of tuition and other fees at private universities and colleges; increased subsidies for tuition and other fees for economically disadvantaged students at public and private universities and colleges; and improved student loan application and repayment measures to alleviate financial pressure on student loan borrowers.
The premier said he hopes the plan will serve as an important springboard in achieving equality in education, lightening the burden of student loans, promoting freedom of choice in education, and enabling schools to cultivate their unique strengths.