As the COVID-19 infections cases continue to grow in Taiwan, Schools in Taipei City and New Taipei City will be suspended for all students under 18 (including 18) from May 18 to May 28.
According to The China post, for Taipei City, Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) announced that starting from May 18, all public and private high schools, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, cram schools, and after-school care centers will be asked to suspend physical classes till May 28.
During this time, students will be asked to participate in classes via Taipei City CooC-Cloud, an online teaching platform.
The China post mentions, a total of 280 primary and secondary schools, 691 kindergartens, 2,593 cram schools and 179 parents’ classes will be affected by the new announcement of physical classes cancelation, affecting more than 334,000 students.
In addition, parents of children under the age of 12 or with physical and mental disabilities are eligible to take the “epidemic-prevention care leave” and employer who fails to grant said leave could be fined between NT$20,000 to NT$300,000.
However, employers are not required to provide paid leaves for these specific care leaves.
As for New Taipei City, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) announced that parents can take “epidemic-prevention care leave” to look after children aged 12 and under following class suspension announcement in light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
The China post mentions, all public and private high schools, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, cram schools, and after-school care centers will be asked to suspend physical classes from May 18 to May 28.
Hou pointed out that during the suspension of classes, subsidies will be provided to underprivileged students.
In addition, students who do not have relevant equipment at home will be provided tablets, laptops, and mobile network cards to borrow from the New Taipei City government.
Other Schools in northern Taiwan announced that junior and senior high school students in their third grade are not required to attend school now on until may 28.
