Yunlin HSR Special Zone Population Surpasses 9,300; County Government Establishes High School! Magistrate Chang Lai-chien: Fulfilling Our Responsibility in Education and Urban Development

Every year, nearly 1,000 students from Yunlin County are forced to pursue their education across county lines. With the registered population in the Yunlin HSR Special Zone surpassing 9,300 and projected to accommodate up to 47,000 residents, there is a severe shortage of quality local high school seats.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Lai-chien announced during a legislative session that the county government has formally signed an MOU with National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) to establish the preparatory office for the "Yunlin County Taiwan Normal Senior High School."

Magistrate Chang emphasized that due to the rapid pace of development and industrial investment in the HSR Special Zone, the three remaining reserved sites for elementary and middle schools must be proactively addressed. The Yunlin HSR Special Zone spans nearly 422 hectares and is planned to accommodate 47,000 people, with the current registered population already exceeding 9,300. Additionally, major institutions such as the Central Taiwan Science Park's Hufei Campus, SPIL's high-tech industrial expansions, and the Navy's Coastal Combat Command are moving in.

Chang noted that as the medical capacity at National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch's Hufei Campus continues to improve, the county government is also continuously investing in major public infrastructure projects, including the county athletics stadium, environmental protection building, Yunlin HSR Fire Substation, and planned facilities such as a digital police headquarters and non-profit kindergartens. Therefore, establishing a school is imperative. To ensure comprehensive regional development—including transportation, healthcare, education, public safety, disaster prevention, and recreation—these elements must be systematically built up in advance to prepare for future growth.

Each year, nearly 1,000 outstanding junior high school graduates from Yunlin choose to study outside the county, resulting in severe talent drain. By introducing NTNU’s mature teacher training programs and educational resources, the county can not only provide local students with diverse and high-quality pathways for further education but also transform Yunlin’s long-standing image as a "cultural desert."

Regarding funding, the county government will actively seek subsidies from central agencies such as the Ministry of Education while allocating the construction budget over four years based on project progress. Through annual fiscal planning, resources will be properly distributed to balance county development with financial discipline. Operational and administrative expenses after the school’s opening will be budgeted annually according to actual enrollment numbers and statutory staffing levels, ensuring no negative impact on the county’s overall financial operations.

Magistrate Chang stressed that by partnering with National Taiwan Normal University, Yunlin County aims to build a forward-looking, distinctive, and internationally competitive next-generation school. This initiative will create more diverse and higher-quality learning opportunities for Yunlin’s youth and lay a solid foundation for long-term local talent development—truly reflecting the responsible attitude of an effective government.