Educational reformists yesterday pressed KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (
The government's policy on education funding has been a concern among educators since a constitutional stipulation was removed in 1997.
The Constitution had required the central government to earmark at least 15 percent of its annual budget for education, scientific research and cultural affairs.
In a plan to restore a legal stipulation for education funding, the Ministry of Education has recently proposed a bill specifying that the nation's total education funding should constitute at least 7 percent of GNP. But the administration branch has so far not reached a consensus on this proposal.
Educational reformers believe that the funding issue is the key to ensuring the nation's ongoing educational development.
The DPP's Chen Shui-bian (
Lien is the only major candidate who has not yet addressed the issue of guarantees on education funding.
"Financial resources are key to whether the policies of presidential candidates can be realized," said Michael Tseng (
Lien has made promises such as issuing nursery education vouchers for children studying in private kindergartens and nurseries and extending the length of government-funded education to 12 years from the present nine years.
While the nursery plan is expected to cost the government NT$1.4 billion during its first year of implementation, the second plan could cost between NT$4 billion and NT$20 billion per year, depending on how thoroughly it is implemented.
Lin Chao-cheng (
In response, Lien's campaign spokesman and legislator Eric Chu (
"This won't be a problem for the government, as the amount will constitute only 2 percent of the current education spending," Chu said.
Chu said it is a goal of the government to make education funding constitute at least 7 percent of GNP, but there is still room for discussion upon whether there should be a legal stipulation.
Hsu Jan-yau (
Hsu said budget allocation should be based on the priority of policies, rather than any legal guarantee.
"From an economic perspective, the guarantee will only lower the efficiency of resource utilization," Hsu said.
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