In June 2015, a dust explosion occurred at Formosa Fun Coast, a recreational water park in New Taipei City, causing 15 deaths and more than 400 injuries. This incident garnered enormous public attention. Prior to the incident, many of the young victims had been working part-time jobs to fund their education. To ensure the injured students receive proper treatment, return to school, and complete their studies without financial hurdles, CDF has been fully subsidizing tuition fees for injured students with financial difficulties. During the three years since the incident, 470 students have received NT$16mn in subsidies.
Over the past three years, injured students have suffered both physically and mentally during treatment. A female student in her junior year at St. John’s University in New Taipei City has suffered from burns covering 43% of her arms and legs. Once a cheerful and beauty-conscious girl, she has been severely depressed since the explosion, and her friends have been concerned about her well-being. Another female student has suffered from severe burns to 54% of her body, muscle contractures, impaired perspiration, and other injuries. During the period of suspension, both students thought about not completing their educations. However, after they learned about CDF’s tuition assistance program, they eventually decided to resume studies and have become friends, supporting and encouraging each other in their educational endeavors.
The Head of Guidance and Counseling at St. John's University, surnamed Zhou, often invites the university’s four injured students to have lunch together, and has become a close friend. Zhou said the university cares about the students, and has provided free room and board. Classes for the students have been scheduled on the first floor to reduce accessibility difficulties. The school also created a Line messaging group to monitor the students’ needs around the clock.
St. John's University support has helped these young students regain confidence. The injured students’ classmates have seen their moods brighten as a result. Thanks to their families’ encouragement and full tuition subsidies from CDF, these students have been able to return to school. “Going back to school is really something to be cheerful about, and CDF’s subsidy program lessened the economic burden on my family”, said one student.
According to the Ministry of Education’s Department of Student Affairs and Special Education, out of 152 registered students listed on record, 128 have returned to school. CDF will continue its tuition assistance program, hoping to help all injured students resume studies and turn a new page in life.