Two separate programs were introduced yesterday to help Aboriginal students in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.
While Aboriginal academics introduced a sponsorship program aimed at helping Aboriginal senior high school students from areas devastated by the typhoon, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) also unveiled a NT$620 million (US$18.9 million) tuition-waiver program.
Li Chia-wei (李家維), a professor of Life Sciences at National Tsing Hua University and one of the initiators of the first program, said he had long planned a program to help economically disadvantaged Aboriginal students.
PHOTO: CNA
“As many Aboriginal families were affected by the typhoon, I think now is a good time to put my plan into action,” he said at a policy dialogue on Aboriginal education organized by the academics yesterday.
Under the program, which is being presented in association with private-sector companies, National Pingbei Senior High School in Pingtung County will next month introduce two classes for about 60 Aboriginal students affected by the typhoon.
The curriculum will be similar to that of regular senior high schools, but will also include lectures on a variety of subjects by university professors and specialists.
Li said students from his university would also volunteer to help Aboriginal students with their studies during school holidays.
The premier, who was present at the policy dialogue, hailed the academics’ program.
Liu said he would instruct the Ministry of Education to launch similar projects in other cities and counties.
The premier introduced a program that will initially waive tuition for about 4,700 Aboriginal senior high school, college and university students affected by Morakot.
Liu said the government would extend the project to cover all Aboriginal senior high school students nationwide starting next year.
Ministry of Education Vice Minister Wu Tsai-shung (吳財順) said the ministry would earmark NT$620 million to support the tuition-waiver program starting next year.
The program could eventually benefit 18,000 Aboriginal students, Wu said.
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