Lu uges continued support for free tutoring program

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) on Saturday called for continued support for a free after-school tutoring program for schoolchildren from disadvantaged families that she launched around the country in March last year.

Lu the appeal at a luncheon aimed at raising funds for the "Little Scholar School" program that was initiated by her along with a group of like-minded social activists.

Addressing fundraiser at the National Taiwan University Hospital's International Convention Center, Lu said she looked forward to seeing the program continue after her imminent retirement.

"Every child is our baby. Even though the program requires a large sum of money, I don't want to see it suspended because of my retirement next month," Lu said, whose second four-year term expires on May 20.

With the "new poor" issue getting ever more serious, the number of children who need assistance in schooling is also increasing, Lu said.

Since the inauguration of the "Little Scholar School" program, the scheme has helped more than 9,000 children, including those born to foreign mothers and Aboriginal parents, as well as those from low-income families and single-parent familes or those who are raised by grandparents.

"But I believe that the actual number of schoolchildren who need help with their homework after school is much higher and could be as many as 200,000," Lu said.

Lu she hopes local philanthropists will not cut off their contributions to the program after her retirement.

"We can fund the program simply by drinking one less bottle of luxury wine and buying one less brand-name handbag," she said.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and many other politicians attended the fundraiser and contributed funds to the program.