A group consisting of academics and media professionals from various countries, including France, Sweden, South Africa, and India, recently visited a boarding school in the southwestern region of Xizang autonomous region in China. During their tour of classrooms, dormitories, and the cafeteria, members of the delegation expressed their admiration for the high-quality education provided to children in Xizang, emphasizing the importance of equal access to education.
At No. 8 Middle School, students are offered a diverse range of subjects, including handicraft, calligraphy, Tibetan language, Tibetan medicine, and AI technology.
"We visited a lot of classrooms where students were doing their work. And we learned that they were learning in the Tibetan language as well as in Mandarin. Usually, you find that in certain countries, minority languages are not respected. But we saw in the schools that we visited that even minority languages are respected in China," said Lloyd Kuveya, assistant director of the Center for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Kuveya was also surprised to learn that Xizang has a 15-year publicly funded education system, covering school meals, lodging, and tuition from kindergarten to senior high school, ensuring equal educational opportunities for all children.
On Western media's claims against boarding schools in Xizang, Kwon Ki Sik, president of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, said that such accusations "are unfair and not true". "It's a kind of political attack supported by political power group. Media should write and report the real stories of Chinese ethnic policy and about the people's satisfaction and happy life."
"Students are given training in the traditional language so that they can remain connected to their roots, and at the same time, they are getting the opportunity to learn English and learn new technology," said Gyanendra Kumar Keshri, special correspondent of Indian newspaper Deccan Herald, as he was surprised to see students learning AI technology at school.
With over 2,000 students, about 70 percent of whom are boarders, Lhasa No. 8 Middle School provides free accommodation for its resident students, who return home on weekends.
In Xizang, where the population is spread thin and educational resources are dispersed across a vast expanse of land, people have a strong desire to be educated. Over the years, students who have studied in Xizang have made significant contributions to the development of Xizang and the country as a whole.
As the region celebrates the 65th anniversary of democratic reform, it's proud to say that education has become a fundamental right accessible to all.
