The education ministry is asking universities to let arriving foreign students stay in dormitories during their two week quarantine period. That’s amid reports that students have to pay significant amounts of money for lodging in designated “quarantine hotels” on arriving in Taiwan.
On Friday, members of the group Taiwan International Student Movement told the education ministry that some students are paying around NT$30,000-NT$40,000 (US$1,000-US$1,400) for two weeks in special quarantine accommodation.
Members of Taiwan International Student Movement called on the ministry to open university dormitories to these students, and give them priority for dorm accommodation as they undergo quarantine. The group also called on the ministry to help students cover expenses incurred by the need to protect against COVID-19. In addition, the group said that Taiwan should open its borders to all foreign students, regardless of their nationality.
In response, Education Minister Pan Wen-chung said that uniform rules set out by the government’s Central Epidemic Command Center require students to cover their own expenses during quarantine.
However, he said that many universities are using the summer break to bring in international students early and letting them undergo quarantine in dormitories. Pan said his ministry will encourage universities to open up their dormitories for use as quarantine centers for foreign students.