Apr 16, 2013

Taiwan: President Pledges Support For Indigenous Education


ROC President Ma Ying-jeou stated that the government expects to establish 30 indigenous schools within the next 10 years in efforts to preserve the culture of 14 tribes nationwide.

Below is an article published by Taiwan Today

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said April 13 that the government expects to establish 30 indigenous schools within the next 10 years in efforts to preserve the culture of 14 tribes nationwide.

“Taiwan is exceptionally blessed in having so many indigenous tribes to enrich local culture,” Ma said. “Although our educational system currently has a Han Chinese focus, we should provide all tribesmen an opportunity to acquire their own languages and cultures.”

Ma made the remarks at the opening ceremony of Pinui Paiwanan yi tjagaraus a kaki tuluan, a Paiwan tribal school in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County.

“The ROC Constitution stipulates that education is a basic human right,” the president said. “Aboriginals, as ROC nationals, certainly have the right to be educated about their own cultures.”

Ma said setting up indigenous educational institutions is an important objective in his golden decade vision for the country. “The Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples approved the establishment of the Paiwan school and Takesiyan da Samawnan a Pinuyumayan, a Puyuma tribal school in eastern Taiwan’s Taitung County, last December, as well as greenlighting Sasuraratan no Pangcah, an Amis tribal school in Hualien County, in March.

“We plan to open three such schools per year in the future,” Ma said. The objectives of the government’s policy for indigenous culture are to achieve fairness and justice, promote autonomy and self-development, and respect differences, he noted. (THN)