The Ministry of Education (MOE) today said that its scholarships for international students at Taiwanese universities are merit based, denying claims that Vietnamese nationals automatically receive financial assistance.
False claims about its Taiwan Scholarship had circulated on social media for years, despite repeated clarifications, the ministry said in a statement.
Recipients are selected by Taiwan's overseas representative offices through a competitive review process, subject to annual quotas and eligibility requirements, it said.
Posts claiming that Vietnamese nationals receive substantial government subsidies, and criticizing the apparent unfairness to local students, have recently gained traction on social media in Taiwan.
One such post, an artificial intelligence-generated graphic depicting a conversation between two Vietnamese university students and a pharmacy worker, includes the claim that Vietnamese students can graduate debt-free after receiving NT$50,000 in government assistance per semester.
Taiwan Scholarship recipients enrolled in bachelor's degree programs are eligible for tuition and miscellaneous fee subsidies of up to NT$40,000 per semester, along with a monthly living allowance of NT$15,000, the ministry said.
Students are also prohibited from simultaneously receiving scholarships or subsidies from Taiwanese government agencies or educational institutions, it said.
False information not only distorts public understanding of education policy, but also...
Creator FREEZIA (real name Song Zia), who rose to fame on the entertainment show "Single's Inferno," has denied rumors regarding her private life and announced plans for legal action. On November ...