For Taiwan, education in rural and indigenous communities faces serious challenges, including those compounded by poverty.
Over the past few weeks, I traveled to several Atayal communities near Nanao Township (南澳). There, I met with a teacher, surnamed Wang (王), good-looking and towering over others at more than 180cm tall. This teacher, who grew up in this community and is now in his 20s, was willing to return to this part of Yilan County to give back as an educator.
He said that economic problems are the prevailing issue for indigenous communities. In Nanao, many household heads lack the funds for cultural education resources and are unable to take part in their kids’ education to the furthest extent, which leads to their children having fewer education credentials, and professional training and abilities. This results in older teens who only qualify for part-time work, painting a rather bleak-looking picture of the future.
Wang said that financially stable households in the area are able to provide good education and escape the cycle of poverty. Many such parents are teachers, police officers or other civil servants. Wang’s parents are teachers.
Although education challenges in indigenous communities are myriad and can be severe, there are many people in Taiwan who fill out the image of one willing to sacrifice by returning to their rural or indigenous hometown to help uplift others. They grow into educators who hold something similar to a celebrity teacher status.
Wang also said that cram schools and after-school care are crucial to kids’ futures. More explicitly, indigenous Taiwanese kids have so much potential to transcend some of life’s hurdles.
Whether it is in athleticism or musical talent, they are the pride of Taiwan, helping to put indigenous kids in the international limelight. Ultimately their talents also help raise the nation’s visibility around the globe.
Nanao is a predominantly Atayal community, and it has cultivated supremely talented young basketball players, such as the elementary-school team that won an elementary-school world basketball championship in Barcelona, Spain, dominating on a world stage at such a young age. Although it faces several challenges, it has also produced young teachers, such as Wang, who are willing to return and give back to the community.
Where there is light, there is also darkness, but when the light expands, the darkness disappears.
Knight Chang is a political worker and holds a doctorate in education.
Translated by Tim Smith
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