Taipei:Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen has unveiled a proposal to reform education, focusing on smaller classes and reduced teacher workloads, while Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an defended the provision of free school lunches.
According to Focus Taiwan, Shen, speaking at the DPP headquarters, outlined his education priorities, which include reducing teacher workload, improving parent-teacher relations, strengthening preschool education, and expanding special education support. He proposed that by the 2028-2029 academic year, elementary school classes be reduced to 24 pupils and junior high classes to 25, without reducing the number of teachers as enrollment declines.
Shen also suggested opening more permanent teaching positions and introducing co-homeroom teachers and administrative assistants in elementary schools. Regarding school lunches, he advocated for adjusting funding in line with inflation and allowing optional parental top-up payments to ensure meal quality is not limited by a fixed spending ceiling.
Mayor Chiang, responding separately, emphasized the importance of free lunches in reducing financial burdens on families and ensuring children do not experience disparities in household income during meals. He urged Shen to clarify his stance, noting the challenger had mentioned both retaining parental payments and continuing free meals.
The issue of school lunch safety has gained attention after a suspected food poisoning incident at Chengyuan High School and reports of student illnesses at Minzu Elementary School. DPP City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua highlighted that the number of affected students at Chengyuan had increased from 87 to 96. In response to inquiries about squid distribution for school lunches, Chiang mentioned that officials are tracking its distribution, and no other schools have reported similar incidents.
Regarding Minzu Elementary School, Chiang stated that preliminary medical assessments have not ruled out norovirus, with one affected student being vegetarian. The city has submitted samples for testing and is awaiting results.