Taipei boosts lunch aid for needy students amid price hikes

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei City Government has announced that starting from the second semester of the 2023 school year, it will increase lunch subsidies for underprivileged high school and vocational students from NT$55 to NT$65 per day, in response to rising prices.

The city's Department of Education provides full subsidies for nutritious lunches for economically disadvantaged students, indigenous students, and students with disabilities at public elementary and junior high schools in Taipei. The move is aimed at easing the financial burden on families.

In a further expansion of the subsidy scope, the cover has been increased to include first- to third-year specialist college students. The city has budgeted NT$8.5 million for lunch expenses to assist these underprivileged students.

Additionally, students from both public and private high schools and vocational schools who are registered in Taipei City but study in other counties are also included in the lunch subsidy.

With the annual lunch subsidy fund reaching nearly NT$300 million, approximately 17,500 students are expected to benefit from this program.