Matsu schools start early with only one new student at Jiguang Junior High

Schools across Matsu have commenced their academic year ahead of schedule to accommodate the upcoming island-wide and county sports competitions. While some schools are seeing robust enrollment, others are grappling with the stark reality of declining birth rates, with one school registering just a single new student.

Official statistics from the Lienchiang County Government's Education Department reveal that across the county, there are 86 new seventh-grade students for junior high and 65 new first-graders for elementary school. The largest junior high enrollment is at Jieshou Junior High in Nangan Township with 52 students, while Jiguang Junior High on Xijiu Island in Jiguang Township has only one new student. Similarly, Jieshou Elementary School in Nangan has 17 new first-graders, but Jiguang Elementary School on Xijiu Island has just one.

This demographic challenge is particularly evident in Jiguang Township, where both Jiguang Junior High and Jiguang Elementary School have only one incoming student each. While the county's elementary schools generally operate with one class per grade, described as "small but beautiful," the low numbers in Jiguang are a clear indicator of the broader demographic trend impacting the region.

In response to this "low birth rate crisis," the Lienchiang County Government has been actively promoting pro-family policies. These include substantial birth subsidies, with the first child receiving 30,000 NT dollars, the second 60,000, the third 90,000, and the fourth 150,000 NT dollars. The county is also working towards ensuring "a public childcare center on every island, with zero waiting lists for public childcare and kindergartens." Additional support includes subsidies for infant vaccinations and in-vitro fertilization, with discussions underway for egg-freezing subsidies. These multi-pronged efforts aim to boost the local birth rate and foster regional development.