Gubao Home Economics & Commercial Vocational School Plans Transformation from 2027; Baseball Team's Future in Spotlight

(Central News Agency reporters Tsao Ya-yen and Wang Hung-kuo, New Taipei City, 5th) Yen Ying-che, principal of New Taipei City's Gubao Home Economics & Commercial Vocational School, a powerhouse in high school baseball, stated that due to the impact of declining birth rates, the school plans to stop recruiting for its current vocational departments starting in the 2027 academic year and transform into a streamlined K-12 school. The baseball team will not be disbanded, but whether it remains at the school or is transferred to another school is still under discussion.

Located in Sanchong District, New Taipei City, Gubao was founded in 1961 as a junior high school. It later established a general high school division and departments such as industrial and home economics, officially becoming 'Private Gubao Home Economics and Commercial Vocational School' in 1989. The school's baseball team from its sports program is one of the two top high school baseball powerhouses in Taiwan, alongside Taoyuan's Pingzhen Senior High School. It has produced many professional baseball stars, both domestically and internationally, including Kao Chih-kang, Chen Kuan-yu, Pan Chieh-kai,林家正 (Lin Chia-cheng), Lin Yu-min, and Sun Yi-lei.

Principal Yen recently told CNA that declining birth rates are the biggest factor driving the school's transformation. Last year, Taiwan had only a little over 100,000 births, and the number of newborns in February this year dropped to just over 6,000. He added that most junior high school students and parents in Taiwan prioritize 'public schools before private, and academic high schools before vocational high schools' when choosing further education, leading many vocational schools to stop recruiting, transform, or close down.

Yen observed that with fewer children, parents are paying more attention to their children's education, and the future market will move towards an elite model. Therefore, the school is currently planning to stop recruiting for its current vocational departments and sports program starting in the 2027 academic year and transform into a streamlined K-12 school system.

Regarding the future of the highly anticipated baseball team, Yen said it is still uncertain whether the team will remain at the school or be transferred to another school. A meeting with the Education Department is scheduled for next week to discuss this.

Tsai Ming-tang, the founder of the Gubao baseball team who has sponsored the team for many years, told CNA that he is not clear about the school's future plans, but if the school stops recruiting, the baseball team might be transferred to another school. He emphasized that the team will not be disbanded and he will continue to sponsor and cultivate these players, but the team's future direction still depends on the decision made in the meeting between the school and the Education Department.

Yen lamented that besides the baseball team, vocational education is also something he is very reluctant to give up. He came to teach at Gubao 31 years ago and discovered that students who were not valued in junior high school were incredibly skilled in professional fields like baking, hairdressing, and computer graphics. 'Not everyone is suited for academic study. When these people find their interest, you see their brilliance,' he said.

'We have confidence in vocational education, but the overall social atmosphere does not think the same way,' he said. Under the impact of declining birth rates, the day school had over 2,800 students 13 years ago, but now has only a little over 1,100. The school has been in financial deficit for over a decade. He stated that it's not that the school is unwilling to persist, but it must adapt to the changing environment.

Yen pointed out that the current transformation plan has not yet been reported to the board of directors or submitted to the New Taipei City Education Department. It will still need to be reviewed and evaluated by the Education Department. The school will recruit students normally for the 2026 academic year this summer and will prioritize students' rights, ensuring all students can graduate smoothly.

The New Taipei City Education Department responded that after contacting the school, Gubao will continue to recruit students for the 2026 academic year, and current school affairs and recruitment operations are proceeding normally, with students' right to education unaffected. The department has not yet received any plans from the school regarding stopping recruitment, closure, or transformation.

The Education Department stated that if the school has any future plans for operational transformation or adjustment of its educational direction, it must proceed according to regulations. The department will review the matter carefully, prioritizing the rights of students, parents, and faculty. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150605