The government yesterday announced schooling and aid measures for students affected by Typhoon Morakot to ensure their education was not interrupted.
Information provided by the Central Emergency Operation Center shows that because of damage wrought by the typhoon, 20 elementary and junior high schools will not be able to reopen in time for the start of the new school year next month.
Students from damaged schools will be allowed to attend classes in areas where their relatives live, in other counties or cities, or near their temporary shelters, without being subject to normal school district restrictions, Deputy Minister of Education Wu Tsai-shung (吳財順) said.
If none of these three options fit the students’ needs, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will open temporary classrooms at the various shelters, Wu said.
In addition, the MOE will provide a variety of subsidies for the affected students.
Elementary and junior high school students will each receive NT$1,500 to NT$1,600 per semester for up to three years in general subsidies and NT$1,500 per month in lunch subsidies, the MOE said.
Senior high school, college and university students will be able to postpone their enrollment and will be granted full tuition and miscellaneous fee waivers for up to three years.
While senior high school students will each receive NT$23,600 per semester in living cost subsidies for up to three years, college and university students will get have their dormitory fees waived for one year.
For all students, the relief allowance will range from NT$5,000 to NT$10,000 per month, while subsidies ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$60,000 will be provided on the death or injury of students or their parents, the MOE said.
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