2020/12/17
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release stating that the "President visited the Ministry of National Defense Dazhi Non-Profit Preschool" and "Child Care Policy of the Armed Forces"
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (17th) that it has worked with the Taipei City Government to co-organize a "Dazhi Non-Profit Preschool" in compliance with policy instruction by the President as "the country raises children from 0 to 6 years", and with Executive Yuan as "Institutionalization of Nursery Care and Improvement of Childcare", being the first case of an agency of the Central Government to run such an educational institute. The preschool will accept "children legally in need of assistance" such as "toddlers from military households (including police, fire-fighter and coastal guard" , "toddlers from families of neighboring residents", and those of "regular citizens", with a total of eight classes set to receive 212 children. The school will officially be opened in August 2020, and will see through the policy objective of taking care of officers and soldiers, taking into account the disadvantaged, and giving back to neighboring residents. Since this project is a crucial childcare policy of the government, it is aimed at children of grassroots officers and soldiers below the rank of major. With its affordable fees, it will help reduce the burden on young families so that military personnel who focus on combat training can take care of their family while working as it meets nursery education needs.
The President, accompanied by the Ministers, Chairman Hsieh of Shih Chien University, and Secretary-General Wu from the Department of Education of the Taipei City Government, visited the "Ministry of National Defense Dazhi Non-profit Preschool" this morning and learned about the living environment of children and curriculum planning. The President joined in on the day making rice balls with other participants, enjoyed a hand puppet show with the children, and applauded kindergarten teachers.
To implement the government's public childcare policy and achieve the goal of settling soldiers and family members, the MND has now completed a circuit of 10 counties and cities north, central, south, and east with 20 suitable sites chosen by the MND as areas concentrated with troops and in need of childcare assistance. With this assistance from the Ministry of Education, more than 64 classes will be opened in 2022. To further its effectiveness, the MND will continue to check and conduct inspections at 19 sites, while professional teams from the Ministry of Education carry out complete evaluations. In the future, the MND will, via the implementation and promotion of the policy, encourage young people to have more children who will grow up to serve their country.