Taipei school lunch subsidies questioned as caterer bids fail

Taipei's planned free school lunch program for public and private elementary and middle school students, set to launch in September, is already facing significant hurdles. Concerns have arisen that catering companies may have to pre-finance the program, leading to a substantial number of bids for school meal services failing.

Reports indicate that approximately 60% of group meal tenders across the city's elementary and middle schools were unsuccessful as of late July. This situation puts over 110,000 students at risk of not having access to school lunches when classes resume. The potential failure of the program has drawn criticism from city councilors.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an has pledged to resolve the issue, promising that the bidding process will be completed by August 21. To alleviate financial pressure on potential caterers and ensure the program's smooth implementation, the education bureau announced it would disburse 80% of the allocated funds by the end of August. This proactive financial measure aims to secure the necessary services and guarantee that students receive their meals.

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The education bureau will disburse 80% of the funds by the end of August.