Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday announced a two-year budget of NT$22.8 billion (US$700 million) to help junior high and elementary schools renovate or re-build old facilities.
"This funding is open to everybody and will be used between 2006 and 2008. However, the premier said that Ministry of Education officials must visit the locations [schools] in person before they approve applications for a share of the funding," Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (
Cheng said the budget was designed to help junior high and elementary schools with aging facilities or those that need more facilities on the campus. He said the premier would ask ministry officials to visit the schools that apply for the funding, because he wanted officials to make sure the applications were reasonable and confirm that there was a need for the funding.
In addition, the officials will have to prioritize the applications by determining which schools are in the worst condition.
Cheng said that Su especially asked that education ministry officials avoid "obstacles," such as in the selection of qualified contractors, during the process of helping the schools renovate or re-build.
"The premier wants to make sure that once an application for funding is approved, the money will be spent in the right place at the right time," Cheng said.
Also, the premier asked education ministry officials to spend their budgets fairly, adding that urban and rural schools would have equal access to the funds.
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