Free lunches for junior high school and elementary school students will be available from the fall semester, with the cost divided between the central government and local governments at a ratio of 7 to 3, Minister of Education (MOE) Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) said on Friday.
Approached by reporters yesterday, Wu dismissed allegations that the policy, one of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) presidential election campaign pledges from last year, was being implemented in order to solicit votes for Ma’s re-election.
The MOE said on Friday that it had earmarked NT$4.1 billion (US$126.67million) to fund the program for the fall semester next year covering 2.6 million students and that local governments would be required to raise the other NT$1.8 billion for the four-month period.
It is estimated that the annual budget for the program will reach NT$17 billion.
Currently, free lunch services for students are being served in Hsinchu County and city, Miaoli County, Changhua County, Nantou County, Taitung County, Kinmen County and Lienchiang County.
Wu said the central government would not appropriate funds for local governments from 2011 if they decide not to carry out the program following next semester.
Local governments can spend their allotted funds from the central government on other educational needs if they consider the lunch program unnecessary, but only those that implement the project next year will continue to receive funds the following year, Wu said.
The policy has been criticized by some over concerns it will take up too much of the education budget.
Wu Chung-tai (吳忠泰), former president of the National Teachers’ Association, said that the scheme would significantly squeeze already scarce funding available for education.
The annual education budget has been capped at no less than 21.5 percent of government net revenue in the previous three years. With decreasing tax revenue, the education budget will only be further reduced, Wu said.
“For most families, it is affordable to have their children join lunch services provided by schools. For economically disadvantaged families, the expenses are already covered by the government. The government should use the money on other more important areas,” Wu said.
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