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SCMP Reporter

Shanghai plans to open its first school for the children of Taiwanese people working in the city, a move aimed at attracting more investment from the island.

The city hopes to have the school ready in time to take students from elementary to high- school levels in autumn, the Shanghai Education Commission said.

The local Taiwan Affairs Office and the education authority backed the plan, but the city was still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Education, an education official said yesterday.

Officials declined to describe the extent of Taiwan's participation or funding.

The school announcement  comes despite cross-strait tensions following the election of President Chen Shui-bian to a second term in March.

Earlier this week, the People's Daily criticised a Taiwanese businessman for his support of Mr Chen.

The planned school will hire teachers from Taiwan and 'selectively use' textbooks from the island, Shanghai's Youth Daily newspaper reported.

Education authorities want to ensure politically sensitive topics are not taught at the school.

At the end of last year, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhang Mingqing ,  said the government required Taiwanese schools on the mainland to use textbooks which abided by the one-China principle.

At least two other mainland cities that are enclaves for Taiwan-funded companies, Kunshan  and Dongguan , have already set up similar schools.

The Shanghai area is  home to about 400,000 Taiwanese and a growing number are moving their families to the mainland. Many have enrolled their children in local schools.

About 3,000  Taiwanese  children are  studying in local primary or secondary schools. Some of the schools have special classes for Taiwanese students.

But one parent said she wanted her son to attend a local school.

'Even if there is a special Taiwanese school soon, I would still prefer to send my son to a local school.

'I want my son to study and learn to get along with other local students, so that he can better adapt to local society,' said Anna Chen,  a university lecturer  who came to Shanghai several years ago.



Shanghai is set to open school for children of Taiwanese