Education benefits from inland investments

Students at the Lhasa Beijing - High School were exercising during break. Photo by Hu Yongqi /China Daily

Over the past 20 years, China's inland provinces have provided a wealth of new equipment for school students in the Tibet autonomous region.

The government of Jiangsu province has invested 2.8 billion yuan ($448 million) in the region in the past two decades, and has sent 408 professionals to work in four counties in Lhasa.

Over the same period, Beijing has invested more than 600 million yuan to build 10 schools in the regional capital, including the Beijing High School of Lhasa, which has seen many of its students admitted to China's best universities.

"Education and educated people are fundamental to local development, especially in the remote areas of Tibet," Tenzin, director of the Social and Economic Institute at the China Tibetology Research Center, told China Daily in a previous interview.

Lhasa Normal School has received 58.27 million yuan over the past 20 years, according to headmaster Huang Xiaoxi: "The Aid for Tibet program has not only supported the school financially, but has also provided us with leadership, teachers, and other resources."

The continued support has resulted in improved facilities, which have helped boost exam results, he added.

With 1,346 students, the Dagze County Primary School is Lhasa's biggest primary school. It opened in 1998 after Jiangsu province donated 120 million yuan to cover the construction costs and provide essential equipment, and more than 100 students from impoverished families receive assistance from individual donors in Jiangsu.

"We are grateful to the Aid for Tibet program for providing us with well-equipped facilities and an excellent teaching environment," said head teacher Nyima Phanthok. "Not only has the Jiangsu government supported us by providing construction funds, but more than 20 of our teachers have participated in training programs in the province."

It's a similar story in the Lhasa suburb of Quxu, where three officials from Jiangsu have volunteered to support one student each. Jiangsu native Li Xiang, deputy director of the Quxu County Committee, has been sponsoring Tibet University student Tsering Pema, for two years.

"I receive a monthly allowance of 500 yuan from Mr. Li, and I am very grateful for his support. My parents aren't well-off and the burden on them would be unsustainable without his help," Tsering Pema said.

"I regard myself as very fortunate. I will treasure my time at the university, and one day I hope I can help needy people as a way of repaying Mr. Li for the help he's given me," the 22-year-old said.