The government is to subsidize students at private universities “at least half” of the gap between the tuition fees of public and private universities, which is estimated to be about NT$25,000 (US$809) per year, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.
Lai made the remarks when attending a flag-awarding ceremony at Chaoyang University of Technology’s summer volunteers camp in Taichung.
The average tuition fee at public universities is about NT$62,000 per year, while that of private universities is about NT$110,000 per year, which is a gap of about NT$50,000 per year, Ministry of Education Department of Higher Education Director-General Chu Chun-chang (朱俊彰) said.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
Although most economically disadvantaged students can receive financial aid for tuition fees, many still need to depend on student loans or part-time jobs to pay for daily expenses, which could affect their education, Chu said, adding that even if they study at public universities, some might still have a financial burden from their daily expenses.
The ministry would subsidize students at private universities by directly deducting the money from the total tuition fee when they pay for it at the beginning of each semester, substantially reducing their financial burden, he said.
The subsidies are to be implemented from the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, and approximately 473,000 students at private universities are expected to benefit from it, he added.
Adding existing tuition and miscellaneous fee exemptions and scholarships provided by various government agencies, a total of about 591,000 students at private universities would be eligible for a minimum of NT$25,000 deducted from their tuition and miscellaneous fees, Chu said.
Deputy Minister of Education Lio Mon-chi (劉孟奇) said the subsidy plan is an education policy, not an election campaign promise, and that it is expected to cost about NT$15 billion per year.
Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Tze-luen (林子倫) said the Cabinet supports and approved the policy of closing the gap between the tuition fees of public and private universities.
The Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy yesterday said the gap between tuition fees has often been discussed by students, so the association also agrees with the idea of a subsidy, as it would help ease the financial burden on university students.
The Union of Private School Educators yesterday also issued a statement to express its approval of the policy.
Union president Yu Jung-hui (尤榮輝) said the policy would serve as a morale booster to critically endangered private universities, and although it would not necessarily prevent them from being shut down, it would improve the universities’ competitiveness in recruiting new students and also provide fairer education opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged families.
However, the union said it hopes the policy is only the beginning of reforms, as there are many regulations that need to be amended.
The government should implement a forward-looking blueprint for the future of higher education at private schools, allowing them to become top universities, it said.
Additional reporting by Chen Chien-chih
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) for making false allegations about donations to Ukraine and disclosing confidential documents, with the ministry saying that it would take legal action. The ministry last year signed an agreement with the Czech Republic on a healthcare project to assist Ukraine, which is to be carried out by the Czech Health Technology Institute. Hsu accused the ministry of being indirectly involved in the party politics of the Czech Republic as institute chairman Petr Foit is a local medical supplier, and has close political