Four schools on the offshore islands of Kinmen will this coming semester start accepting children of Taiwanese businessmen based in China, according to Chinese-language media.
The Ministry of Education is rushing to renovate the four schools in order to get them ready for the new arrivals, the reports said.
The education ministry has asked Kinhu Elementary School (金湖國小), Kincheng Junior High (金城國中), Kinmen Senior High School (金門高中) and National Kinmen Senior Vocational School (金門農工) to come up with renovation plans within one week, according to Chinese-language media.
The renovations must be completed by the end of August and must create dormitory accommodation for 267 students. The schools will start receiving new students in September.
Liu Yi-chuan (
Liu said the enrollment of new students would not affect the quality of education for local students because the number of teachers will be increased in order to prevent overcrowded classes. Liu also added that the ministry's medium and long-term goal is to increase the number of schools on Kinmen.
A survey conducted by the Straits Exchange Foundation in May shows that the parents of 278 Taiwanese children in Xiamen are interested in sending their kids to school on Kinmen.
Many of the parents are concerned about sending their children to Chinese schools, where they could be indoctrinated with communist propaganda and ideas hostile to their native Taiwan.
In March, the ministry agreed to allow the children of China-based Taiwanese businessmen to study in Kinmen and Matsu, which are located much closer to the Chinese coast than Taiwan proper.
Dongguan City in China's Guangdong Province already has a junior high school offering courses in the Taiwanese curriculum. Xiamen, however, currently has no similar school.
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