The Taichung City Government continues to advance the renovation of aging school facilities. On July 23, Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new gymnasium at Szu Chen Junior High School in Longjing District, announcing an investment of over NT$110 million to rebuild the aging facility, with completion expected by August 2027. Mayor Lu emphasized that education is the cornerstone of a city’s future. During her tenure, the city government has launched the construction of auditoriums at 46 schools, with 80% of the projects concentrated in the former county areas, demonstrating the efforts to bridge the urban-rural divide. Since 2020, the city government has also allocated approximately NT$3 billion to assist 21 schools in reconstructing 27 school buildings, aiming to provide every child with a safe and comfortable learning environment.
“No child should be left behind even in hardship.” Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen noted that Taichung is a “champion of education,” with the highest proportion of its total municipal budget allocated to education among the six municipalities. To ensure the safety of students at school, Mayor Lu launched the “An Auditorium for Every School” initiative upon taking office. To date, 46 school auditoriums have been completed, the vast majority of which are located in the former county areas. She also noted that Szu Chen Junior High School, the only junior high school on Dadu Mountain, though relatively small with only around 550 students, has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance in academics, the arts, and sports. This makes it all the more important to provide comprehensive educational facilities that support the diverse development of its students.
Director Chiang Wei-Min of the Education Bureau added that Taichung City has been actively advancing the reconstruction of aging school buildings. Among these efforts, the junior high division of Hou Zong High School was the first to begin reconstruction at the end of 2023. Since October last year, several schools have successively commenced reconstruction of their aging facilities, including Daming Elementary School in Daya District, Fengtian Elementary School in Fengyuan District, Guangzheng Elementary School in Wufeng District, Rih-Nan Junior High School, Fong Dong Junior High School, Qingshui Elementary School in Qingshui District, and Xin-Xing Elementary School in Beitun District. The groundbreaking of the new gymnasium at Szu Chen Junior High School marks the latest milestone in these efforts. Upon completion, it will provide students with a safe, comfortable, and modern learning environment—reassuring for parents and joyful for children.
Director Chiang explained that the original gymnasium at Szu Chen Junior High School had become outdated over time, raising safety concerns. In response, the city government actively sought funding from the central government while also allocating its own budget to facilitate the demolition and reconstruction of the facility. The reconstruction project, with a total cost of NT$113,826,000, is funded through general subsidies and executed under the city government's budget. He noted that the architectural design draws inspiration from the natural ridgelines of Dadu Mountain. By incorporating layered elements, the structure symbolizes the growth of knowledge and culture. As such, the new gymnasium will not only be a fully functional facility but also harmoniously integrated into the community, becoming a new campus landmark.
Principal Lin Chiung-Hui of Szu Chen Junior High School expressed her gratitude to the city government and local elected representatives for their support and assistance. She expressed hope that the new gymnasium would bring renewed vitality to the school, providing students with a higher-quality space for learning and activities. She also looked forward to the smooth progress and on-time completion of the construction project.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Mayor Lu and attended by City Councilors Lin Meng-Ling, Chang Chia-An, Wu Chiung-Hua, and Lin Hao-Yu. Legislator Yen Kuan-Heng and Taichung City Council Deputy Speaker Yen Li-Min also sent representatives to take part in the event.