TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Public Kindergartens (公幼) in Taiwan have seen a substantial increase in student participation following the introduction of affordable extended care services in 2024. However, this surge has led to a staffing shortage, prompting the K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education (國教署) to step in with financial support starting in July to bolster the workforce.
To alleviate the burden on existing childcare personnel, the K-12 Education Administration has approved subsidies for additional staffing costs, up to NT$650,000 per person annually. This initiative has approved 398 new positions.
The move comes as Public Kindergartens report a significant enrollment increase for their extended care services, with an 88.4% participation rate during the 2024 winter break, marking a 17.6% increase from the previous year. The second semester of the 2024 academic year also saw a 92.4% participation rate, up 8.7% from the 2023 academic year.
The K-12 Education Administration highlights that the additional staff, who began serving in various kindergartens in July, play a crucial role in supporting Public Kindergartens. This support improves the quality of education and care and offers diverse and adaptive activities for children.