Taiwan's Ministry of Education Allots NT$150 Million Annually for Full-Time Indigenous Language Teachers

(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chih-chung, Taipei, 29th) To encourage primary and secondary schools to hire full-time indigenous language teachers and to pass on indigenous cultures, the Ministry of Education allocates approximately NT$150 million annually. For the 2025-2026 academic year, a total of 268 teachers will be subsidized, with increased salary payment standards and additional allowances for those who continue to teach in remote areas.

The Ministry of Education pointed out in a press release today that, based on the "Regulations on the Qualifications and Employment of Indigenous Language Teachers in Senior High Schools and Below" enacted in 2018, it annually allocates funds to assist local governments in hiring full-time indigenous language teachers, and revises the regulations annually to clarify job content, salary, and working conditions.

In 2025, the Ministry of Education completed amendments to increase the basic salary payment standard by 3%, and to add monthly additional allowances beyond the basic salary for those who continue to teach in remote areas and based on their indigenous language proficiency certificate level, encouraging full-time indigenous language teachers to continue teaching and pursue professional development.

In addition, considering the actual needs of educational settings, the Ministry of Education has also revised relevant teaching qualification regulations, allowing those who obtain an intermediate-to-advanced level indigenous language proficiency certification to teach in primary schools, thereby encouraging more indigenous language teachers to join the ranks of teaching for indigenous cultural and language transmission.

The Ministry of Education hopes that through the professionalization of indigenous language teachers and improved compensation, incentives will be increased, ensuring the stability of indigenous language education faculty, and allowing every student willing to learn indigenous languages to receive indigenous language education with peace of mind, passing on Taiwan's indigenous cultures. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150429