Taiwan is setting aside NT$400 million (over US$13 million) to help universities affected by the loss of Chinese students. China recently announced that their students will no longer be allowed to attend school in Taiwan.
Deputy Education Minister Liu Ming-chi (劉孟奇) said that the news from China was very sudden. He said there are about 8,000 Chinese students enrolled in schools in Taiwan. More than 7,000 are back in China and unable to return for school, while another 800 are still in Taiwan.
Liu said the special budget will help universities affected by the new policy. The details of the plan will be made public this week.
Meanwhile, Legislator Lin Yi-hua said that the unemployment rate for 22-24 year olds was 13% last year, and could reach over 14% this year due to the epidemic. She said that every year, 250,000 students take out loans to pay for school. She suggested that the education ministry extend the grace period for paying back student loans during this difficult time.
The deputy education minister says that the ministry will seriously consider Lin’s proposal.