Tibetannet

According to the latest data from the Education Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the past six years from 2010 to 2015, education investment in Tibet exceeded 60 billion yuan, greatly boosting Tibet’s education initiative toward modernization.

Data showed that, in the new century, education investment in Tibet has continued to increase from 2010 to 2015. The amounts invested on education were at 62.59 hundred million yuan, 80 hundred million yuan, 95.4 hundred million yuan, 11 billion yuan, 13.5 billion yuan, and 15.7 billion yuan respectively. Total investment in education has reached about 64 billion yuan, the highest in history. 

In addition, investment in basic education infrastructure went from 4 billion yuan in the 11th Five-Year Plan period to 11.789 billion yuan in the 12th Five-Year Plan period.

Thanks to the continuing expansion of investment in education, Tibet was the first province in China to achieve 15-year free education for all, combined with “Three Guarantee” policy, which is free education for all kids of Tibetan farmers and shepherds  since 1985, there is more motivation than ever for farmers and shepherds to send their children to school.

Starting with the Fall semester of 2015, individual budget for Tibet’s “Three Guarantee” is now at 3000 yuan. According to the data, the 2015 budget for this initiative is now at 15.5 hundred million yuan, benefitting 525,400 students.

During the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the number of preschools in Tibet jumped in number from 119 to 882, with an enrollment rate of 61.47%. Not only has basic education in Tibet improved, enrollment in high schools also reached a high of 74.47%. In addition, there are now Ph.D. degrees being granted in Tibet, which helps grow and cultivate the fields of ethnic culture as well as plateau science and technology, elevating education in Tibet to a whole new level.

There are many shortcomings with education in Tibet due to its natural environment, unique history, and weak economy. For example, there are still schools in remote farming and shepherding communities with no electricity and an unstable solar energy supply, where students and teachers have no clean water nor hot showers. The Education Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region has announced their resolve to overcome these obstacles to reach the goal of balanced education development by 2020 as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan.