Unveiling Taiwan's first aboriginal experimental elementary school

An all-new educational system for indigenous children

Words by Paula Lin Translated by Anna Yang
Photos provided by Information Bureau of Taichung City Government

Up until 2015, there were a total of 10 experimental schools in in Taiwan but rapid growth means that there are now 42 of these educational institutions. Taichung City has done its part to promote experimental education in recent years with Da-Guan Elementary School for the Atayal indigenous tribe members in the city's Heping district becoming an experimental school this year following an agreement with the Experimental Education Committee. Officially renamed the P'uma Elementary School on Aug. 1, 2016, this has become Taiwan's first aboriginal experimental elementary school.

A curriculum rooted in aboriginal cultural education
Most students at Da-Guan Elementary School, established in 1949, are from indigenous tribes, leading to a special emphasis on aboriginal cultural education. The school aims to foster its aboriginal students' natural talents in areas that include music, art, sports and dancing. As experimental education is involved, all lessons based on aboriginal cultural learning are considered part of the general education curriculum. Currently, several learning activities and an experimental curriculum are being introduced and include, for instance, a focus on Atayal tribal language, traditional culture and agriculture that is taught by tribal elders.

In April with Ministry of Education approval, Da-Guan Elementary School became part of Taichung City's free school district. This means that students wanting to learn about Atayal culture may register here without moving to Daguan township; non residents can easily set up a household registration anywhere in Taichung City in order to study at Da-Guan Elementary School. This plan will also boost student enrollment at this school.
Recently, a public vote including teachers, students and tribe members was held to choose a new school name and "P'uma" (meaning "inheritance" in Atayal) was selected. "P'uma" also expresses the Atayal ancestral teaching ("Gaga") of inherited wisdom regarding life and past culture, underlining the school's respect for this element and a desire to incorporate it into a new educational system.

Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung noted that previously while serving in the Legislative Yuan he vigorously championed experimental education via statements and the creation of new laws, which finally resulted in the establishment of experimental education in 2014 with the Ministry of Education's support and approval. He anticipates that P'uma Elementary School will serve as a successful model for further experimental higher educational at the junior and senior high school levels, and he hopes that aboriginal self-identities will be expressed in their future career in the society.