TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Education announced on Monday (Nov. 6) a new proposal to offer a set subsidy ranging from NT$1,200 to NT$1,500 each month to students living on campus.
The ministry plans to implement this initiative at the start of the new semester in February 2024. The scheme will apply to all students residing on campus at any public and private university and is estimated to benefit around 260,000 individuals.
The Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee examined the Ministry of Education's budget for the fiscal year 2024 on the same day, while legislators Wu Ssu-yao, Fan Yun, and Chen Pei-yu suggested extending the rent subsidy program to include students residing on university campuses.
The central government expanded the rent subsidy 2.0 policy in July of this year, making off-campus students eligible for a monthly subsidy of between NT$2,400 and NT$3,600. The legislators also hope to discuss a special program for college students with the Ministry of the Interior.
In response, Department of Higher Education Director-General Chu Chun-chang affirmed that the department would provide a defined monthly subsidy to on-campus resident students, initially planning to provide a monthly stipend of NT$1,200 to NT$1,500.