Staff writer, with CNAPremier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and others raised concerns yesterday over Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) proposal to lower or eliminate interest on student loans, while Han’s supporters praised the plan. Han, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, on Thursday said that if elected, his government would bring down interest rates on student loans to their lowest level possible or ask banks to offer interest-free student loans subsidized by the government. POLICIES IN EFFECTPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has introduced several policies since 2016 to help students, including relaxing eligibility criteria for student loans, extending grace periods on repayment and offering zero-interest loans, and providing rental and childcare subsidies for students, Su said. In comparison, Han’s plan would require about NT$4 billion a year, Tseng said, calling on Su and Tsai to support the proposal. Han’s plan was a good policy that politicians across party lines should support, Hsiao said.

Source: Taipei Times November 03, 2019 16:01 UTC