Experimental Education in Taiwan Sees Over 27,000 Students, Dacheng Elementary Teaches 'Poetry and Dance'

Experimental education in Taiwan is experiencing significant growth, with over 27,000 students now enrolled in various programs by the 2025 academic year. This expansion includes 128 school-based experimental education institutions and 17 publicly operated private experimental schools.

Pingtung County's Dacheng Elementary School exemplifies this trend, adopting a "living artist" philosophy. The school collaborates with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's dance studio to integrate physical education into daily learning. First-graders engage in a "poetry and dance" curriculum, transforming poetic imagery into physical movements. This approach aims to enhance students' concentration and foster self-expression, guiding shy children to develop confidence and boldness.

In Hsinchu County, Beiping Waldorf Experimental School focuses on nature-based education. Younger students participate in "field walks" to cultivate observational skills, while older students embark on mountain expeditions and interdisciplinary research projects. These immersive experiences in natural environments teach knowledge, teamwork, and problem-solving, helping students understand themselves and their surroundings.

Zhang Yankai, acting deputy director of the elementary and junior high school division of the Ministry of Education's National Education Administration, stated that experimental education encourages schools to design curricula based on their educational philosophy and student needs. This allows learning to extend beyond textbooks into nature, arts, community, and daily life, fostering independent learning, communication, and the ability to face challenges. The ministry will continue to support local governments and schools in advancing experimental education through funding, professional development, and guidance.

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Experimental education encourages schools to plan courses according to their educational philosophy and student needs, allowing learning to go beyond textbooks and into nature, art, community, and life situations, cultivating students' independent learning, expression, communication, and ability to face challenges, and allowing children with different characteristics to find suitable learning methods.