TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei City Government announced Monday (Oct. 27) plans to convert unused school classrooms into public childcare centers. Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) aims to expedite the policy to address Taiwan's declining birthrate. He urged schools to overcome convenience-based objections to the transformation initiative.
Chiang identified high childcare costs as major contributors to Taiwan's declining birthrate, emphasizing the city's responsibility to address these economic factors. He noted expensive childcare often forces parents to rely on grandparents or pushes women from the workforce. Taipei City plans to emulate strategies from Nordic countries and New Taipei City, integrating childcare centers into existing school spaces.
Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華), who previously served as education director for both Taipei and New Taipei, will oversee the policy's implementation. She will ensure various departments assess and utilize idle classrooms efficiently. The education department will verify available spaces, while the social affairs department will boost childcare capacity.
The finance department will assist in identifying unused public spaces, while the public works department will manage renovation projects. The metro and urban development departments will incorporate childcare facilities as standard features in new constructions. This comprehensive approach involves multiple city departments coordinating to expand childcare infrastructure. ◼