Lin Aili, a teacher from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, plays games with children at a kindergarten established with the help of the province in Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY

Aug. 23, 2024 -- Over the past three decades, with strong leadership from the central government and robust support from people across the nation and sister provinces and cities, the Xizang autonomous region has embarked on a new era of modernizing its education system.

The transformation has been made possible through the unwavering commitment of individuals and groups who have dedicated themselves to supporting education in Xizang.

In 2016, the Ministry of Education launched the first group-style education talent support program in Xizang. By 2018, 17 paired support provinces, cities and units had sent more than 1,200 talented professionals to assist 20 schools in Xizang, driving progress across various educational initiatives.

Since 2019, the Central Organization Department of the Communist Party of China has integrated group-style education talent support into the overall plan for sending talent to Xizang. Seventeen paired support provinces and cities have dispatched two groups totaling 800 talented professionals to support 21 primary and secondary schools in Xizang, resulting in significant advances in the supported schools and the enhancement of basic education in the region.

In recent years, enthusiastic education support workers have traversed great distances, bringing knowledge and wisdom to every corner of Xizang. With each successive support team's care and assistance, Xizang's education and sports sectors have undergone remarkable transformations, showcasing new developments and positive changes.

In Xizang's Metog county, the completion of a teaching building and reading corridor at the Wanquan Primary School stands as a testament to Guangdong province's support initiatives. The project, by the ninth batch of aid teams from the city of Foshan, has significantly enhanced the school's teaching facilities and helped meet the growing demand for quality education in the region.

Ding Huiyi, an official at the school, said completion of the teaching building and reading corridor in June 2022 involved an investment of 13 million yuan ($1.82 million) from the ninth Guangdong-Foshan Aid Xizang Working Group.

"The completion of this project has effectively improved the teaching conditions of the school, meeting the increasing enrollment needs of school-age children in the county," Ding said.

Ding said the number of students at the school had been increasing year by year, and its "classrooms were no longer sufficient".

The teaching building built by the working group alleviated the problem.

The efforts of individuals like Zhang Jing, vice-principal of Foshan First Primary School, who has been supporting teaching at Wanquan Primary School, exemplify the dedication and impact of education support initiatives.

Zhang arrived at the school in March this year to support its teaching efforts. In addition to her administrative duties, she teaches composition classes for grades two to six.

"I consider this place as my own home," she said. "Regarding composition teaching, from lower grades to higher grades, I actively conduct demonstration classes. Since coming here, I have felt very happy."

Fifth grader Dawa Yutso said: "I really enjoy teacher Zhang's classes. She is humorous and witty, and I have gained a lot from her. Through writing compositions, I have learned from Zhang that I need to focus on details and include more descriptive details."

Pema Tsekyi, another fifth grader, said: "Teacher Zhang is very lively and gets along well with us, her young students. She is humorous during classes, and while we learn a lot from her we also feel happy."

Meng Jianhua, deputy team leader of the 10th Guangdong Aid-Xizang Cadres Work Team in Metog, said Guangdong has sent more than 310 aid cadres, including university students, flexible aid teachers, short-term aid teachers for paired schools, and flexible educational support talent to carry out education aid work in Metog. It has also invited over 90 teachers from Metog to Guangdong for on-the-job learning and training.

Meng said Foshan has sent teams of outstanding teachers and principals to Metog to conduct school management, psychological health education lectures and training, providing support in development planning, team building, talent cultivation and teaching reform for schools in the county. They have conducted over 30 training courses that have benefited more than 350 teachers.

Zhang Huiqing, associate professor at Xizang Minzu University, said the group-style education talent support program in Xizang is a new attempt, model and initiative for education support in the new era.

"It is part of the national policy supporting Xizang, and a necessary path for education modernization," Zhang said.