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MORAKOT: THE AFTERMATH: Taipei City details education plan for typhoon victims

The Taipei City Government yesterday released an education assistance program for students in five cities and counties that were seriously hit by Typhoon Morakot, promising to offer free education to 4,200 students until they are ready to return home.

Taipei City's Department of Education will open 4,200 places at public schools in the city to help students from Nantou, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties continue their studies in Taipei when the fall semester begins on Aug. 31.

Department commissioner Wu Ching-shan (吳清山) said the department would assist students in choosing a school based on their choice, educational performance and special needs. Those who have excellent school performance records could enter prestigious schools such as Taipei First Girls' High School and Taipei Jianguo High School.

“Hopefully, these students will get an excellent education in Taipei City, and we will make sure that each one of them will be able to study in a proper environment,” he said.

More than 300 schools in central and southern Taiwan were damaged or completely destroyed by Typhoon Morakot.

Wu said the department would pay for the students' tuition, lunch fees and living expenses. The department would also arrange foster families for students who need it and provide psychological counseling in schools.

The department is also helping reconstruct schools that were damaged by the typhoon and will send school counselors and social workers to help with post-disaster counseling at disaster-hit areas, the city said.

Students should apply with the department by filling out application forms and attaching household registration information.

For more information, call the 24-hour hotline at (02) 2725-6444.
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