The Cabinet gave preliminary approval for two Ministry of Education proposals March 14 that will extend Taiwan's compulsory education and provide affordable preschool care.
Following the policy announcement by President Ma Ying-jeou in his New Year’s address Jan. 1, Taiwan will start implementing 12-year compulsory education in several stages, beginning Aug. 1 this year.
The latest MOE proposals will see qualifying students attending vocational high schools receive tuition waivers. The state will also offer subsidies to students attending private senior high schools.
By the time the new education system is fully implemented in 2014, all of Taiwan’s senior high schools will be tuition free, and most students will not be required to take an entrance exam to attend senior high school.
In addition, the government will offer tuition subsidies of NT$14,000 (US$474) and NT$30,000, respectively, for 5-year-olds entering public and private kindergartens.
Depending on the country’s financial situation, tuition-free preschooling will gradually be extended to children aged four and three, the MOE added. (THN)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw