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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》Thirteen schools at risk of closure
The main entrance to the Ministry of Education in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Rachel Lin, Taipei Times
KNOCK-ON: The effects of a declining birthrate are spreading from universities to high schools. Lai must address this matter after taking office, a former education official said
By Rachel Lin, Tsai Cheng-min and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer
Thirteen private high schools and vocational high schools on the Ministry of Education’s “Extraordinary Assistance List” could close next year if they fail to resolve their troubled operations, affecting about 2,503 students and 331 staff.
The schools have until May next year to improve operations or be forced to close before Aug. 1 that year, K-12 Education Administration manager Huang Ching-yi （黃黃儀） said.
Long Der Commercial and Household Vocational High School dean Hsu Yung-fang （徐詠芳） said it is the only vocational school south of the Jhonggang River （中港溪） in Miaoli County, adding that it has been seeking to establish courses for immigrants and has already filed to be removed from the list.
Hung Jen Catholic Girls’ High School dean Hsu Yao-wen （許耀文） said the board of the Chiayi County school had approved an injection of NT$80 million （US$2.5 million）.
It has shifted toward a focus on robotics in the past few years, Hsu said, adding that after the K-12 Educational Administration’s second visit next month, it would remove the school from the list.
Kung Tung St Joseph Technical Senior High School dean Lee Jung-kung （李榮恭） said the Taitung County school had been placed on the list due to a financial setback.
Lee said he was confident the school would overcome the financial issue as it is in the process of liquidating real-estate assets.
Former K-12 Education Administration director Wu Ching-shan （吳清山） yesterday said the effects of a declining birthrate are spreading from universities to high schools, adding that this was an urgent matter that president-elect William Lai （賴清德） must address after taking office in May.
While the issue poses a challenge, it is also an opportunity to fine-tune the nation’s education policies and launch a comprehensive reassessment of schools and local needs, Wu said.
He said that special subsidies could help local government keep one to three private vocational schools to help students in their communities.
National Federation of Teachers’ Unions president Hou Chun-liang （侯俊良） said the school closures show that education policies, such as allowing the establishment of multiple high schools and colleges in an area, require review.
Action Alliance on Basic Education chairman Wang Han-yang （王瀚陽） urged Lai to review the number of schools in the nation and assess local needs, adding that the government should not sit by and watch as private schools close.
Government intervention is necessary if the closure of schools would affect students and require them to commute to continue their studies, National Parent Education Volunteer Association president Hsu Chu-lung （徐巨龍） said.
Additional reporting by Peng Chien-li, Wang Shan-yen, and Huang Ming-tang
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
