Groundbreaking of Rishin Elementary School in Wuri District, Taichung – Mayor Lu Announces 10th New School During Tenure, More to Come

Taichung City's population has surpassed 2.86 million, setting a historical record, and it has been rated Taiwan's happiest city for eight consecutive years. In response to continuous population growth and increasing student enrollment demands, Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen attended the groundbreaking ceremony on the 7th for the 'First Phase Construction of Taichung Wuri District Rishin Elementary School.' The total budget for Rishin Elementary is approximately NT$240 million, jointly funded by central and local governments, with completion expected in two years and student recruitment to begin thereafter. This marks the 10th new school initiated during Mayor Lu’s tenure.

Mayor Lu emphasized that Taichung is the only city in Taiwan to have been recognized as the happiest for eight consecutive years. As the population exceeds 2.86 million and continues to grow, demand for school places across various districts has increased. The city government has actively planned educational infrastructure, and today’s groundbreaking of Rishin Elementary School is a significant milestone. It will open in two years. Previous projects include Beitun District’s Puzu Elementary and Junior High Schools, Songqiang Elementary, Nanxing Elementary and Junior High Schools; Taiping District’s Singao Elementary; Nanzhou District’s Shude Elementary; Nantun District’s Wenshan Junior High; and Sakuchi District’s Luyang Elementary. Today, Rishin Elementary in Wuri District becomes the 10th. Additionally, Mayor Lu announced the establishment of an 11th new school in Wuqi District to meet regional development and educational needs.

Mayor Lu noted that the total budget for Rishin Elementary is approximately NT$240 million, supported by both central government subsidies and local government funding. She expressed gratitude to Legislator Yen Kuan-heng for securing funds for the community, as well as to attending city councilors Wu Chiung-hua, Chang Chia-an, Lin Meng-ling, Lin Hao-yu, and Tseng Wei for their strong support. In recent years, the city government has consistently prioritized education in its policy agenda—not only constructing new school buildings but also replacing all classroom desks and chairs, implementing free dairy programs for students, improving nutrition lunch policies, and achieving results in reading education, language competitions, and vocational education. Going forward, the city will continue to build higher-quality, safe, and inclusive learning environments so that children can grow up healthier and happier.

Director-General Jiang Wei-min of the Education Bureau stated that Rishin Elementary is scheduled to officially enroll students on August 1, 117 (2028). Currently, Principal Wu Kuei-fen is leading the preparatory team in planning both hardware and software aspects. The future campus will connect with parks to the north and southeast, as well as a linear green belt to the southwest, forming a cohesive urban green open space. It will also feature grassy slopes, slides, and an amphitheater-style staircase theater underneath, creating multi-level, cross-floor spaces for play and teaching. The city expects the project to be completed on time and to specification, marking a new chapter in Wuri’s educational development. Moving forward, the city government will continue to assess school space needs across districts, upholding the vision of universal access to public kindergartens and compulsory education, ensuring parents in Taichung can raise children with peace of mind and students can learn joyfully.