Students Protest Against Attempts to Raise Tuition|反對調漲學雜費 學生串連到教育部抗議

May 31 is the last day for higher education institutions to submit their tuition hike proposal. That's why many students, along with members of civic groups, protested in front of the education ministry, to express their opinions against high tuition. They criticized the government's decision to allow colleges and universities to raise tuitions from 2.5 percent to 3.75 percent, saying education should not be a commodity, with some cracked down by the police when they were trying to break into the building.


Representatives of the students chant their slogans to call against the raise of tuitions fees. As they tried to enter the Ministry of Education to communicate with the officials, they were halted by the police.

The confrontation soon escalated, and quite a few protesting students were pushed to the ground by the police. The students' emotions run high because May 31 is the last day for higher education institutions to submit their proposal of potential tuition hike to the education ministry. There have been rumors that 15 colleges and universities have applied to raise their tuition by 2.5 percent to 3.75 percent. The news has worried many students.

My tuitions used to by around NT$47,000 per semester, it will be over NT$50,000 after the adjustment. The higher the tuition fee, the more time we need to spend working part time jobs, This is a change that strongly damages our interest.

In the last three to five years, many colleges and universities have netted revenues above NT$ 100 million. The officials said that they will use the revenue to benefit the students, by installing more air conditionings and fixing old equipment. However, we never see any of that.

Members of the Association of No High Tuition said that the adjustment will results in an additional spending of NT$3,600 on average per year per student, and it will affect around 100,000 students. This change contradicts the administration's promise to lower the financial burden for working class families. The association has called on the education ministry to refute the colleges' applications.

We will follow the proper procedure to discuss the matter. The members in our committee include representatives of students, parents, and from other walks of society.

The education ministry said that the tuitions fee has been frozen for a few years, and that the fee in Taiwan is relatively lower compared to other countries around the world. The ministry will follow proper procedure to discuss the matter. On the other hand, the students still insist that the ministry turn down all applications for raising tuition fee and open up their discussion sessions to the public.