Kaohsiung to fully subsidize public kindergarten teachers' lunches, boost IT departments

Kaohsiung is expanding its educational support by announcing that public kindergarten teachers will receive full lunch subsidies starting in the 2026 academic year. This move, revealed by Mayor Chen Chi-mai on August 19, aims to recognize the crucial role educators play in early childhood development.

The subsidy will apply to teachers in regular public kindergarten classes and centralized special education classes. This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 1,300 educators annually, with an estimated investment of NT$20 million. The city government believes that by having teachers share meals with young children, it can better monitor their dietary habits, foster good eating etiquette, and enhance teacher-student interaction, ultimately improving the quality of care and education.

In addition to the lunch subsidies, Kaohsiung is also set to enhance its digital infrastructure. The threshold for schools to establish IT departments will be lowered. Previously, elementary schools needed at least 25 classes, middle schools 13, and high schools 40 to set up an IT department. Under the new policy, any school with 13 or more classes across all levels can establish one. This change is projected to benefit 63 schools and involve an annual investment of NT$12 million, aiming to bolster administrative support for digital teaching, information management, and smart campus development.

These new policies represent a continued commitment by Kaohsiung to educational investment. They build upon existing programs, such as the universal free lunch for all public elementary and secondary students and full lunch subsidies for homeroom teachers in municipal elementary and middle schools. The city aims to create a more supportive and technologically advanced learning environment for both students and educators.