Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday announced a NT$40 billion (US$1.2 billion) budget to implement the 12-year compulsory education plan which he promised last week.
He said that the government will spend NT$40 billion over three years to pave the way for the implementation of the program, scheduled for 2009.
The premier first introduced the 12-year compulsory education plan on Feb. 27 when he was attending a meeting of lawmakers on the first day of the latest session in the legislature.
Su said yesterday that it has been 39 years since the nation implemented its current nine-year compulsory education system in 1968. Now 46 countries around the world have a 10-year compulsory education system or longer he said -- adding that it is time for Taiwan to catch up.
As to the thornier details of the program, such as the way in which students will be admitted into senior high schools and concerns over catchment areas and enrollment, Su said the government will spend one year discussing the issues and gathering opinions before finalizing the details of the program.
"We are currently working on details of this plan and will definitely make public the plan when we are done," Su said, adding that the 12-year compulsory education plan must be carried out to reduce the current burden on students and parents.
"It is a must-do," Su added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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