Premier touts success of dorm-renovation program
By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNA
About 20 percent of universities have completed dormitory renovations through the Ministry of Education’s dorm-improvement program, making the living spaces “more than just places to sleep,” Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.
Improving dormitories is about more than just enhancing students’ quality of life — it is about creating a comfortable environment for young people living away from home for the first time to help them excel in their studies, Cho said at the opening ceremony of an exhibition of renovation projects at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.
The exhibition featured 52 renovation and new-construction projects from 41 universities and colleges.
An example of a renovated university dormitory room is pictured at an exhibition at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
While only 20 percent of universities have completed dorm renovations, more schools would want to participate after seeing the results, Cho said, adding that the government would work with the ministry to ensure the success of the program, which launched in 2019 to improve university accommodations.
Given how much better the dorms look, universities might need to remind students that they still need to leave their rooms and go to class, he said.
The government has introduced rent subsidies and dormitory upgrades in the past few years to ease students’ burdens, Cho said.
Dormitories are no longer just places to sleep and rest, as many universities have added gyms and kitchens, where students from different countries can exchange culinary traditions and broaden their international perspectives, he said.
The ministry’s Global Pathfinders Initiative has helped young people gain experience overseas through education, internships and exchanges, enabling them to bring back a broader range of knowledge and experiences, he said.
Now in its second year, the program had 12,028 applicants, up from 8,877 last year, according to the Youth Development Association’s Web site.
The ministry also enhanced support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, promoting greater equality in education, Cho said.
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