From campuses to housing
During a discussion with National Chengchi University students on May 16, Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the chairman and presidential candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party in January’s presidential election, suggested using for social housing the land owned by private schools and colleges that have closed down. This idea merits further discussion.
This innovative idea would solve the problem of what to do with schools that have ceased operations and whose grounds lay unused. It would also bring multiple benefits to the community. Many schools face an ever-increasing risk of closure due to a declining population and a shortage of resources.
However, this idea would allow the government to use the resources of redundant schools by turning them into public housing, thus giving campuses a new lease on life while also providing multifunctional locations for community activities.
As well as providing residential living space, such social housing projects could also host various community activities such as art exhibitions, cultural workshops and community education programs. Multipurpose venues like this could promote social cohesion and provide community residents with a wealth of opportunities for learning and interaction.
Furthermore, placing social housing at the heart of the community would give students easier access to educational resources and services. A closer integration of schools with the community would provide students with more opportunities to practice what they learn, e.g. by interning and volunteering, thus helping achieve the goal of inclusive education.
This conversion mode would also contribute to sustainable urban development. Utilizing school campuses would reduce the pressure to develop land. Providing social housing would also improve communities’ environments and enhance residents’ quality of life.
To sum up, converting decommissioned schools into social housing could solve the problem of school closures and idle school campuses. It would create multifunctional public spaces, realize the goal of inclusive education and promote sustainable urban development. It would be good if this innovative model could be widely applied in future educational and social development.
Fu Sheng-chieh
Taipei
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