Pingtung schools damaged by heavy rain; union calls for central aid

Pingtung County in Taiwan is grappling with widespread damage to its educational infrastructure following continuous heavy rainfall. According to the Ministry of Education, 34 schools across Taiwan have been affected, with 16 of them located in Pingtung, representing nearly half of the total.

The Pingtung Education Union highlighted several severely impacted schools, including Gaotai Junior High School, Xinghua Elementary School, and Zhizheng Junior High School. Gaotai Junior High School suffered roof damage, while Xinghua Elementary and Zhizheng Junior High experienced damage to their facilities and equipment, necessitating substantial repair funds.

In response to the disruptions, the Pingtung County Education Department has postponed final assessments for classes that were suspended due to the weather. Schools are now facing the dual challenge of rescheduling exams and managing campus cleanup, equipment inspection, and administrative tasks.

The union stressed that the post-disaster recovery should not fall solely on frontline teachers and school administrators. Teachers are already managing their teaching duties and now must also handle campus organization, inventory of teaching equipment, curriculum adjustments, and student welfare. The union is urging the Ministry of Education and the Executive Yuan to promptly launch a special project for campus disaster recovery. This project should assist local governments in assessing damage, expedite the allocation of repair funds, and provide necessary human and administrative support to ensure a swift return to normal teaching environments and safeguard the safety and educational rights of all students and staff.