Education Minister and Transportation Deputy Minister Join Hands with Chupei Mayor Candidate Cheng Chaofang; Huang Yu-wen Criticizes: 'Don't Just Chase Politics—Remember the Children of Chupei'

Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao and Transportation Deputy Minister Wu Sheng-yuan attended the Hsinchu County 2026 Municipal Policy Briefing today (15th) alongside Democratic Progressive Party Hsinchu County Magistrate candidate and Chupei Mayor Cheng Chaofang. Huang Yu-wen, a candidate for Chupei City Council, posted on Facebook stating that while it is commendable for central ministry leaders to visit Chupei and show concern for local policies, the persistent and severe lack of educational resources in Chupei must not be reduced to mere political photo-ops without concrete solutions to students’ schooling difficulties—otherwise, local parents will only grow more disappointed.

Huang pointed out that the public high school and vocational school enrollment rate in Hsinchu County is only about 38%, leaving many students unable to attend schools nearby. For years, parents in Chupei have struggled with insufficient high school quotas. With students born in the Year of the Dragon soon entering high school age, the shortage of high school and vocational school admissions across the Hsinchu-Chubei-Miaoli region will become even more severe. Many children may be forced to commute across districts or even travel to Miaoli, spending 1.5 to 2 hours daily on round-trip commutes.

She emphasized that while Chupei’s population is growing rapidly, the pace of educational infrastructure development has failed to keep up. Related plans for adding classes and building new schools, along with funding, are still awaiting accelerated action from the central government. If central funding continues to be delayed, establishing new schools and expanding high school capacity will remain just slogans, and the burden will ultimately fall on students and parents.

Huang also noted that educational challenges extend beyond the high school level. Many schools in Chupei currently operate under enrollment caps, forcing newly enrolled students to be reassigned due to overcrowding each year. Additionally, demand for 2-year-old specialized classes and public childcare far exceeds supply, causing young families to worry about childcare and school admissions even from the time of pregnancy.

She believes what Chupei residents truly expect from the central government is not large-scale policy events, but concrete solutions—such as the swift approval of funding for new schools and additional classes, increasing the number of quality high school and vocational school spots, and improving transportation for cross-district commuting.

Regarding the panel discussion on reducing teachers’ administrative burdens, Huang acknowledged that easing teachers’ workloads has long been a necessary reform in education, and the central government should implement it earnestly. However, she stressed that this must not distract from Chupei’s most urgent issue: the critical shortage of educational resources.

Huang emphasized, 'Educational subsidies should transcend party lines, and children’s right to education must not become a political slogan.' She urged the Ministry of Education and the Executive Yuan to seriously address Chupei’s current educational situation and promptly present concrete budgets and timelines. 'Let us not allow neglecting education while chasing politics to become the final impression left by this visit to Chupei.'