Why hasn't the kindergarten after-school care rate been raised?

It was excluded from the policy, likely due to budget constraints and oversight.

Why is the pay gap between schools and kindergartens an issue?

It creates inequity for similar workloads and responsibilities.

Is there a chance the union's request will be fulfilled?

Growing public attention increases the likelihood of gradual implementation.

Kindergarten After-School Care Hourly Rate: Education Groups Urge Adjustment to Match Elementary and Junior High Levels

Published Jun 18, 2026 10:57 AM ・ Updated Jun 19, 2026 5:55 PM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: CNA (Central News Agency)

The Taiwan Education Industry Union (TEIU), together with several municipal and county teachers' unions, has called for the hourly rate for kindergarten after-school care to be raised by 20% to match that of elementary and junior high schools, currently frozen at NT$400. They also advocate restoring standard teacher-to-student ratios.

(Taipei, June 18 — Reporter Chen Chih-chung) The Taiwan Education Industry Union (TEIU), together with teachers' unions from multiple counties and cities, jointly issued a press release today urging that the hourly rate for after-school care in kindergartens be raised in line with that of elementary and junior high schools. They also called for the teacher-to-student ratio to return to regular standards.

TEIU pointed out that the Ministry of Education announced a 20% increase in after-school care hourly rates for elementary and junior high schools at the end of last year, raising the rate for elementary schools to NT$480 and for junior high schools to NT$540. However, kindergartens were excluded from this adjustment and remain frozen at NT$400 per hour.

TEIU noted that to alleviate the childcare burden on dual-income families, the opening rate of extended care programs in public kindergartens has reached 90%. This high level of service capacity relies heavily on frontline childcare staff working de facto overtime. Extended care services essentially constitute 'overtime labor' for childcare workers, and thus should be fairly compensated as such.

TEIU recommends raising the kindergarten after-school care hourly rate by 20% to NT$480 and stipulating that the teacher-to-student ratio should match that of regular classes. After all, the late afternoon period, when children remain in the kindergarten, is often when they are most emotionally unstable and fatigued after a full day of activities. Childcare staff must exert significant emotional and physical effort, and they absolutely deserve fair and dignified treatment from the state. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150618

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Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
Category: Taiwan

Kindergarten After-School Care Hourly Rate: Education Groups Urge Adjustment to Match Elementary and Junior High Levels

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