Shiow-Yen Lu, mayor of Taichung, has been promoting "doubling the number of public pre-schools" to support parents and reduce their burden, with the current achievement rate exceeding the standard. In addition, the city government has also accelerated the establishment of "toddler classes" for children aged 2 to 3. Through the joint efforts of public and private kindergartens, they plan to increase 50 classes per school year from 2021, which has reached the standard. Expansion of classes in the 2022 school year will also take effect in August, and more than 200 classes are expected to be increased over the four school years. Childcare allowance for children aged 2 to 4 will also increase from August 1. Rates for children who attend private preschools or are looked after by their parents will increase by NTD 1500 to 2500 per month depending on the number of children in the family, further reducing the childcare burden of parents.
Chen-Sheng Yang, director of the education bureau, said that since Mayor Lu took office, 214 classes have been added for the 2022 school year and the achievement rate for the policy target of "doubling the number of public preschools" reached 119%. Preschools accept children over the age of 3, while the "toddler classes" for children aged 2 to 3 are still in short supply. In 2018, there were only six classes in the "toddler class" of public preschools, with 72 students enrolled. After taking office, Mayor Lu has been actively expanding the number of "toddler classes," which has been increasing yearly. By August this year, the number of "toddler classes" in the 2022 school year will increase to 79, providing capacity for a total of 1,189 children aged 2 to 3.
Director Yang explained that the threshold of teachers and field equipment for adding a "toddler class" is higher than that of a general class. However, the education bureau has overcome the difficulties. Besides adding "toddler classes" for public preschools, the bureau also encouraged private preschools to expand the number of classes planned for the 2021 to 2024 school years. The goal is for public and private schools to add 50 classes collaboratively each school year. In the 2021 school year, public and private preschools have added 32 and 19 "toddler classes" respectively. With a total of 51 classes the standard has been reached . In August of this year, 36 additional "toddler classes" will be added to public preschools, and private preschools will also continue to expand their capacity. They expect that more than 200 classes will be added in the four school years.
The education bureau will continue to take inventory of resources and spare space to accelerate the establishment of "toddler classes" and encourage private preschools to enroll 2-year-old children. They have also actively handled preschool education subsidies for children, so parents can focus on their careers and strive for the economy without worry. Parents will see their burden of childcare reduced, and the childcare allowance for children aged 2 to 4 will also increase from August 1. Rates for children who attend private preschools or are looked after by their parents will increase by NTD 1500 to 2500 per month according to the number of children in the family. The first child can receive 5000, 6000 for the second child, and 7000 for the third child. About 65773 parents of young children would benefit.
The education bureau said that the cost of school for young children would also reduce. For children attending public preschools, non-profit preschools, and quasi-public preschools, the monthly fee will reduce by NTD 500 from August 1. The monthly fee for the first child to attend public preschool is under NTD 1000, and free for the second and later children. The monthly charge for the first child to attend non-profit preschools is under NTD 2000, for the second child it is under NTD 1000, and free for later children. In quasi-public preschools, the monthly charge for the first child is under NTD 3000, under NTD 2000 for the second child, and under NTD 1000 for each of the later children. About 38494 parents of young children would benefit.