Kaohsiung and Taichung to Implement Free School Lunches by 2026

Students attending public elementary and junior high schools in Kaohsiung and Taichung will receive free lunches starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. Announced on March 15, 2024, this initiative aims to support approximately 214,000 students in Taichung and an additional 180,000 in Kaohsiung. The financial commitment for Taichung’s program is estimated between NT$2.5 billion and NT$3 billion (approximately US$79.19 million to US$95.03 million), according to Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen.

Mayor Lu emphasized the necessity of securing additional budget allocations by March 2025 to ensure the program’s implementation. She expressed optimism about bipartisan support from city councilors, including members from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party. They called for an equitable approach, suggesting that benefits should also extend to private schools and high schools.

In Kaohsiung, Mayor Chen Chi-mai announced a dedicated budget of NT$1.8 billion for the free lunch initiative. He highlighted the city’s commitment to sourcing ingredients that are certified under Taiwan’s agricultural standards. Chen noted that the program will include a traceable QR code for transparency regarding food sourcing.

The recent moves by both cities follow the earlier decision made by Taoyuan, which has provided free school lunches since the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, Taipei announced a similar policy on the same day as Kaohsiung and Taichung, aiming to cover all elementary and junior high schools.

Several other regions, including New Taipei City and Tainan, are currently offering school lunch subsidies for disadvantaged students. A broader trend is emerging as Yilan, Hualien, Changhua, and several other counties and cities in Taiwan prepare to implement or continue free lunch programs.

Concerns about equity in student welfare have been raised by various stakeholders. New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi urged the government to establish a unified policy to prevent funding discrepancies across cities and counties. Echoing these sentiments, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee noted that amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, which took effect on March 15, 2024, have significantly impacted central government finances. She called for collaboration among municipal leaders to review proposals for further amendments, aiming to ensure equal subsidies for students nationwide.

The National Federation of Teachers’ Unions also weighed in on the issue. In a statement, the federation expressed satisfaction that local leaders are prioritizing school lunches but cautioned against the potential for welfare policy competition among local governments. They stressed that the focus should remain on improving meal quality without compromising education and personnel resources for the sake of popular policies.

As the implementation date approaches, the cities of Kaohsiung and Taichung will need to navigate these complexities to ensure that their free lunch programs meet the needs of their students while maintaining high standards of quality and accessibility.