Exhibition examines indigenous education (fwd)

[Phil CashCash]

Exhibition examines indigenous education

Publish Date:11/28/2003
Story Type:National Affairs;
Byline:Cecilia Fanchiang
http://publish.gio.gov.tw/FCJ/current/03112822.html

        An exhibition and seminar to explore indigenous education on the
island was held Nov. 22-23. Academics and educators were invited to the
two-day event at which several research papers were presented, posters
were put on display, and teaching materials, atlases, historical
documents, Taiwanese food and musical works were exhibited.

        The event was organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and
sponsored by the Cabinet's Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), the
Council for Hakka Affairs (CHA) and the Taipei Municipal Teachers
College.

        By showcasing local food, art and music--all of which can be
used as instructional materials by enterprising teachers--organizers
aimed at putting a new face on aboriginal education in Taiwan.

        "I hope this seminar will lead to a breakthrough that helps
distract pubic attention from the ongoing debate over what is an
appropriate written system for aboriginal languages and help people see
the broader value of appreciating the presence of indigenous cultures,"
said Education Minister Huang Jong-tsun in his opening address.

        Huang said indigenous education--an issue completely divorced
from the question of independence or unification, he stressed--is not
an invention of Taiwan but a global cultural movement.

        "Indigenous education should not be restricted to area-based
education," agreed CHA Chairwoman Yeh Chu-lan.

        Participants in the meeting did not restrict their discussions
to local issues. Speakers evaluated indigenous education systems and
shared practices for developing localized curriculums from countries
such as China, the United States and Japan. Papers presented at the
seminar attempted to provide insights into proper ways to design a
history curriculum and implement mother-tongue education.

        Topics included the nativization of history studies, the
Curriculum Alignment program, a comparison of social-education
curriculums from different countries and case studies highlighting
problems with adopting romanization systems in native Taiwanese
language education.

        Liu Yung-pin, CHA vice chairman, expressed his concern over the
gloomy prospects for local dialects in Taiwan, most of which are under
serious threat of being extinguished. Liu said all of Taiwan's local
dialects, such as the Hakka and Hoklo languages, are gradually
vanishing. He suggested that mother tongues should be taught in school
as early as kindergarten.

        CIP Vice Chairman Pu Chung-cheng, who is a member of the Tsao
aboriginal tribe, said his council has plans to rescue the linguistic
heritage of indigenous languages and prevent them from vanishing
through assimilation. Starting in 2007, the CIP will have aboriginal
students provide certification as proof of their heritage if they want
to receive preferential treatment in entrance examinations. Meanwhile,
indigenous people must pass the CIP's Aboriginal Language Skill
Certification Test before becoming civil servants. According to
education officials, the MOE is working with the CIP in lending
students the necessary assistance.

        The two-day seminar opened with a concert dubbed "Our Songs" in
which ethnic music was highlighted.