Whither aboriginal education?

Abstract

Taiwanese government is continuously putting significant efforts into aboriginal education that is vital to keep their traditional cultures alive and offers a way to success and self-realization. Adding points to school admission examination scores and government funding for overseas students are benefiting aboriginal students. The government, in addition to the preservation of aboriginal language, has worked out a system for writing the languages, completed the compilation of the teaching material for the nine-year compulsory education system and passed the relevant laws to encourage indigenous students. The College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University is expected to become a foundation for talent cultivation and offer job opportunities to indigenous people. Some tribal colleges have also been set up to combine ethnic, educational, cultural and community resources to develop tribal wisdom and shape a collective will in tribes.