Demographic Decline Leaves Four Penghu Primary Schools With One New Student and Two With None

Four primary schools in Taiwan’s Penghu County each welcomed just one new student this year, while two others had no new enrolments, reflecting the spread of the island group’s demographic decline.

Penghu recorded 539 new primary school students, 19 more than last year’s 520. But the increase did not reach several individual schools. Magong’s Yuli Elementary School, Jiangmei Elementary School in Baisha, and Jiangjun and Wang’an elementary schools on outlying islands each had one new pupil. Dachi Elementary School in Xiyu and Huayu Elementary School in Wang’an had none.

The decline also appeared in Magong, Penghu’s more densely populated area. Yuli Elementary School, near the popular Yuli beach, enrolled one child, while Jiangmei Elementary School, known for its baseball program, also had a single newcomer.

The pattern extended to secondary vocational education. The fishing department at National Penghu Senior Aquaculture and Fishery Vocational School enrolled only one new student, a girl. The situation has prompted concern that the county’s fishing industry could face a break in its educational pipeline.

Despite the small numbers, schools kept their welcome ceremonies. Jiangjun Elementary School designed five activities for one first-grade pupil and one new kindergarten child, combining school values with games and challenges. The stations included a diligence and intelligence gate, a courage gong, a five-virtues ring activity, an independence ball and a welcome round of applause.

At Yuli Elementary, older students led the newcomer in striking a symbolic wisdom gong, taught traditional drum and wood-ball skills, and gave gifts. The principal presented books and seasonal sports uniforms.