The teacher-student ratio at kindergartens would be improved from the current 1:15 to 1:12 starting in August, after changes proposed by the Ministry of Education were approved by the Executive Yuan yesterday.
The 1:15 ratio was in place at public, quasi-public and private kindergartens nationwide for 40 years, Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) said.
The new ratio would be implemented in stages, starting with public kindergartens in August, followed by quasi-public kindergartens in August next year, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung City Government
Enforcement of the new ratio at private kindergartens would not be compulsory, but would be encouraged from August next year, he said.
The ratio would be implemented after reviewing the number of teachers and students, and at kindergartens where it cannot be directly implemented, additional teachers would be hired, or classes added, he said.
Starting in August next year, implementation of the new ratio would be one of the requirements for quasi-public kindergartens to continue their cooperation with the ministry, he said.
An extension would be granted until the end of term for kindergartens where no students leave in that month, he said.
For kindergartens where tuition fees would be raised to meet the new ratio, the ministry would consider providing parents with subsidies, he said.
Quasi-public kindergartens that maintain the ratio would be given incentives of NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 annually for the first two years, he said.
At private kindergartens that opt to implement the new ratio, the government would also subsidize parents for a portion of any related increase in tuition, he said.
The government would also assist quasi-public and private kindergartens with any expenses related to preparatory measures for implementing the new ratio incurred in the first half of next year, he said.
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