Taiwan schools transform classrooms into living cultural spaces

台灣學校將教室改造成生活文化空間

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Since 2020, Taiwan’s K-12 Education Administration has been promoting the Indigenous Cultural Learning Environment Program to preserve the nation’s Indigenous heritage and strengthen cultural education.

Under the program, schools can receive up to NT$2 million (US$65,243) in funding to develop learning environments that reflect Indigenous traditions, according to the education ministry. Each school designs projects based on its curriculum needs, working with tribal elders to create spaces that embody cultural identity and educational value.

Nearly 90 schools have joined the program to create culturally meaningful campuses where students can experience Indigenous knowledge firsthand, the ministry said. Teachers integrate ethnic elements into their lesson plans to link education with culture.

Taoyuan’s Guanghua Elementary School partnered with local Atayal communities to build a traditional Atayal house and hunter’s trail. The house used traditional techniques and was constructed from cedar, bamboo, and rattan, embodying the Atayal principle of “living with nature.”

Ruibei Elementary School in Hualien County built a traditional house that combines Bunun and Amis features, symbolizing respect and coexistence between the two groups. Elders, teachers, students, and community members worked together on the construction.

Hualien County’s Taiping Elementary School, an experimental school for the Bunun tribe, recently constructed a traditional slate house and held a blessing ceremony. The house represents family history and is deeply integrated into the school’s curriculum.

The K-12 Education Administration said it will continue to encourage schools to design curricula that combine the wisdom of tribal elders with local resources to create culturally rich learning environments. The program strengthens students’ sense of cultural identity and confidence, allowing Indigenous heritage to continue flourishing within Taiwan’s educational system, the administration said.