The Taipei City Government said yesterday it would offer 4,200 places at municipal schools to allow students in disaster areas to continue their studies in the city until they are able to return home.
More than 300 schools in central and southern Taiwan were damaged or completely destroyed by Typhoon Morakot. To help students in the hard-hit regions, Taipei City’s Department of Education said it had asked the city’s public schools to offer between 10 and 20 places each to those in need to continue their education.
Department commissioner Wu Ching-shan (吳清山) said elementary schools would offer 20 spots each, while public kindergartens, junior high schools, senior high schools and vocational schools would offer 10 places each.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said the city government would open more places to students from disaster areas if necessary. The department will cover these students’ tuition and help them find homestay families, he said.
“These students are victims of the disaster, and we will try our best to take care of their needs during the time they are studying here,” Hau told reporters at Taipei City Hall.
Wu said the department would set up a special team to handle the details of the program. Students who are qualified to study at municipal schools will be able to start school when the fall semester commences.
To support rescue and relief missions in the hard-hit regions of southern Taiwan, the city government has also established a command center to oversee the city’s operations in central and southern municipalities.
Hau also donated blood at the city hall’s blood donation center yesterday and called on civil workers and residents to join him in supporting the rescue and relief work.
“Medical missions in the disaster areas are in need of blood. It is important that what we offer is what they need,” he said.
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