wfn.org | Taiwan: Gap Between Rich and Poor Reflected in Children’s School Performance

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2965 Edition

>December 22-28, 2008

Gap Between Rich and Poor Reflected in Children’s School  Performance

>Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

According to a report on students from low income families conducted by  Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, students from poorer families do  not perform as well as students from average or rich families. This  report revealed that 14.8% of students from poor families score less  than other students in their report cards. Furthermore, once they reach  ninth grade, 48.5% of regular students score in the upper tier compared  to only 17% of students from poorer families. The data gathered by the  report shows that school performance among students from poor families  become progressively worse as they become older and the grade gap  between them and other students widens progressively as well.

According to statistical data from the Ministry of Interior, there are  currently 90,846 low-income families in Taiwan, which is also the  highest number of low-income families in over ten years. The newest  surveys conducted by social organizations such as Taiwan Fund for  Children and Families and Chinatrust Charity Foundation also reveal that  more and more students from poor income families are lagging behind in  educational resources, educational performance, and self-realization  mainly due to their family’s financial circumstances. The surveys  reveal that about 16% of families spend about $10,000 NTD per month on  their children’s education. However, this figure is nearly a  low-income family’s entire income for the month. This finding  highlights the plight of poor income families and the challenges they  face in providing for their children’s education.

Surveys from social organizations also reveal that 59.8% of low-income  families do not invest any additional money on their children’s  education (such as paying for their children to attend cram school).  Furthermore, 57.7% of these families only let their children attend  low-cost cram classes offered at local schools because these classes are  included in the annual fees students must pay to the school. This trend  shows that low income families can only afford cheaper classes offered  by schools.

In the survey conducted by Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, 27.6%  of families seeking the organization’s help earn less than $10,000  NTD (equivalent of $300 USD) per month and 70% of families earn less  than $20,000. The average family has about 3.4 people. Very little money  is left to invest in children’s education after basic living  expenses for the entire family are accounted for.

When it comes to educational goals for the future, the survey found that  students from low-income families have similar aspirations as their  classmates. However, their family’s financial limitations prevent  them from realizing their dreams. Most students from poor families only  reach senior high school as they cannot afford to study further. The  survey found that 63.8% of these students felt they could not pursue  higher education because their family could not afford it. In contrast,  most students from average income families felt that their poor academic  performance was preventing them from advancing to college.

Executive Director of Taiwan Fund for Children and Families Wang  Ming-ren says that, as of September 2008, the number of families and  people that the organization is helping have reached a record high since  the organization was founded 58 years ago. There are currently 42,000  applicants and these numbers show that many poor children need our help.  Wang sincerely thanked all the donors who were supporting the  organization in helping children get the education they need and saving  them from a future of living in poverty.

“Mrs. Shie” was one of the recipients helped by Taiwan Fund  for Children and Families. Through the organization’s help, she was  able to escape poverty and support herself financially. This woman is  joining the organization’s newest project by helping women from  poor-income families open a small food store. Proceed from sales at the  store will go toward the organization’s special scholarships for  elementary school students. After the help she received, she would now  like to give back to the community whenever she can through practical  means. Mrs. Shie encourages women to step out of their homes and build  their self-confidence. She says that seeing the smile on the faces of  mothers and children as they work together is very rewarding.

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