By Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNA
The Ministry of Education (MOE) today released the 10 preschools shortlisted for gold and silver awards in the 2026 Awards for Teaching Excellence, recognizing the schools’ engagement with local communities and indigenous villages to create immersive learning environments.
Twenty-nine schools were recommended by local governments to advance to the second round, which was cut down to 10 following evaluations in mid-July, the MOE said.
Yilan County’s Nanshan Elementary School in Datong Township (大同) was nominated for its preschool’s close ties to the Atayal indigenous community, with its curriculum covering the migration history of the Pyanan community, local cultural identity and stories told to the children by village elders, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Education
Also shortlisted was the preschool affiliated with Dongyuan Elementary School in Taipei’s Wanhua District (萬華), whose campus features a piece of Taipei public art known as the “Tales of Dongyuan,” it said.
The metal gate features 15 wrought-iron window grills that illustrate stories of Dong Yuan Street and Dong Yuan Elementary School, going back more than a century to when the area was known as Kalah.
The preschool at Dongyuan Elementary School, a public elementary school in Hsinchu City’s East District, was also nominated for offering guided tours and talks to children at the century-old Hsinchu City Zoo, the MOE said.
The school’s curriculum features collaborative learning and focuses on fostering empathy toward animals and protecting the environment, it said.
The MOE said the winners would be announced on Nov. 20, with gold award winners to receive NT$600,000 (US$18,831) and silver winners NT$300,000.