MECO to discuss Filipino student issues in Taiwan with OCAC

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is seeking discussions with Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) to address issues faced by Filipino students in study-work programs.

This initiative follows warnings from Taiwanese missionary priest Fr. Joy Tajonera, who reported that Filipino high school graduates are being made to repeat Grades 10-12 in Taiwan with Mandarin as the medium of instruction.

The students reportedly alternate between three months of schooling and three months of factory work.

Fr. Tajonera noted a continuous influx of new Filipino youths, predominantly from Cebu, with 15 to 20 new arrivals weekly.

MECO, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) are collaborating to gather information and improve the situation for these students.

MECO has tasked its extension offices in Taichung and Kaohsiung to investigate and coordinate with Fr. Tajonera.

There is hope that these students will eventually be permitted to pursue higher education, rather than being confined to vocational training.