By KHT Staff. Images via Pingtung County Govt.
PINGTUNG — A new teacher dormitory has opened at Mudan Junior High School (牡丹國中) in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township (牡丹鄉), giving faculty housing on campus after years of long commutes from nearby towns.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) joined local officials Thursday for the opening ceremony, calling the project an important step for education in remote communities.
Mudan Junior High School is classified by the Ministry of Education as an extremely remote school. Its previous teacher dormitory had been in use for more than 50 years before it was closed in 2020 because of aging buildings and outdated facilities.
Since then, teachers have had to rent housing in areas such as Checheng (車城) and Hengchun (恆春) and commute to the school, increasing their living costs and travel burden. County officials said the situation also made it harder to retain teachers, forcing students to repeatedly adjust to new instructors instead of building stable, long-term learning relationships.
Chou said the county government sought funding through the Ministry of Education’s 2020 program to improve dormitories at elementary and junior high schools in remote areas. With additional county funding, support from Legislator Saidhai Tahovecahe (伍麗華) and backing from the Pingtung County Council, nearly NT$21.5 million was invested in the new dormitory project.
The county later secured more than NT$1.7 million in subsidies at the end of 2025 for interior renovations and equipment purchases, Chou said. Despite repeated failed tenders, construction began in May 2024, and the dormitory was completed and ready for occupancy in March this year.
Chou said high teacher turnover in remote schools has long been a county concern. Improving dormitory conditions can provide teachers with safer and more comfortable living spaces, reduce commuting and rental pressure, and help stabilize teaching quality, she said.
Mudan Junior High School Principal Lai Yung-ching (賴詠清) said teachers previously had to leave Checheng and other areas as early as 6 a.m. and travel along winding mountain roads to reach school on time.
When teachers stayed late for after-school tutoring, remedial instruction, or student activities, they often left after dark and returned to their rented housing around 8 p.m., Lai said.
“That kind of life can be endured for a day or a month, but it is very difficult for teachers who want to stay long term,” Lai said.
Teachers at the school said the new dormitory showed the county government’s support for remote education and would give educators more confidence to stay. Students said they hoped their teachers would no longer have to rush long distances every day and would have more time to join school activities and help them learn.
The new one-story dormitory has 10 single suites and a shared lounge for teacher interaction and professional discussion.
The building uses red, gray, and black as its main exterior colors, reflecting Paiwan (排灣族) cultural elements. Its northeast-to-southwest layout and added wind barriers on the north side are designed to reduce the impact of seasonal downslope winds while preserving ventilation, natural light, and energy efficiency.
