Culture, religion and modernity go hand in hand in Xizang

Educational undertakings in the Xizang Autonomous Region have achieved high-quality development, according to a white paper issued by China's State Council Information Office. 

"From 2012 to 2022, the central government invested more than 251.51 billion yuan (around $34.94 billion) in Xizang's education," said the white paper, titled Communist Party of China Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements, which was released in November 2023. 

"People in Xizang have transitioned from a past where basic human rights were lacking to a present where they enjoy a plethora of colorful life choices. Together with people from across China, they work towards the rejuvenation of the nation, aiming for personal accomplishment and self-realization through individual efforts," Hong Tao, president of China Tibetology Publishing House, told CGTN.

Preserving the language

Spoken by indigenous people for thousands of years, the Tibetan language is an important symbol and carrier of the Tibetan culture.

Liang Junyan, an analyst at the China Tibetology Research Center, regards the preservation of the language and traditional culture as the key to regional development.

So, what has been done in this regard? Xizang has employed a bilingual system of education since the autonomous region was established in 1965, with priority given to teaching in Tibetan, according to the white paper.

At present, a combination of Tibetan and Chinese Mandarin is used for major courses in all the farming and pastoral areas of Xizang, as well as some urban primary schools and high schools. In addition, courses in Tibetan are taught in Tibetan high schools in the inland areas of China, the white paper said.

Taught at Xizang University,"Tibetan Language and Literature" was among the first batch of undergraduate majors approved by the Ministry of Education in China.

The time-honored civilization carried by the Tibetan language and script is indeed rich, and it can be said that it is also one of the components of the excellent culture of the entire Chinese nation, said Liang.

Monks attend a debate activity at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 23, 2023. /Xinhua

Cultivating all-round talent

The popularization of compulsory education in the autonomous region has not only increased literacy, but also cultivated the all-round Tibetan speaking talent.

With the support of relevant state departments, Tibetan-language websites and software have also emerged in Xizang, all of which were developed and produced by scholars who understand Tibetan, Liang said.

"Only by visiting schools in Xizang can you know how well Tibetan culture and language are preserved there," Liang said."Because now many people from different provinces in China travel to Xizang, it is a great economic loss for Xizang people not to speak Chinese well and communicate with tourists." 

Students attend classes at Lhasa Second Senior High School in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 1, 2021. /CFP

Making education accessible

Scattered living patterns in Xizang make commuting to schools difficult, and it is not possible to set up a school near every community. Therefore, people in the region have long demanded access to boarding schools in the same way as people in other provinces of China.

"Now, parents in Xizang not only demand that their children have access to schools, but also that they have access to high-quality and modern education. This also fully shows that the Chinese government has been doing its best to meet people's ever-growing desire for a better life," said Liang.

One of Liang's Tibetan friends, born in a remote village in Xizang, went to a boarding school in the 1960s when the living conditions were extremely difficult. She then went to college and later became a teacher in Lhasa, where she had the chance to exchange views with scholars from different provinces. Liang's friend is now retired, and takes her grandson to and from school every day, which takes up to four hours because of traffic.

"She told me that her family has decided to send the grandson to a boarding school next year which will provide better and more intense education as well as improve his life skills. She will finally be free from the daily commute," Liang said."It is a story of education changing the fate of the people in Xizang, and also a story of people's trust in boarding schools."

Best of both worlds

Beyond culture and language preservation, the central government is working to cater to the educational needs of the religiously inclined population. In this case, it means catering to the Buddhist majority population with opportunities to study their religion at school, side by side with modern contemporary education.

"Currently, we have nine students from different religious sects in our class, and we offer courses such as Chinese Mandarin, Tibetan, debate on scriptures, religious studies, mathematics and physical education," Konjo Nyima, head teacher of the Youth Living Buddhas Class, told CGTN.

These special classes were established mainly for the young living Buddhas who need to undergo nine years of compulsory education.

Dra Ping, professor of Tibetan language and literature at Xizang College of Buddhism, said that his college provides compulsory education as well as studies on traditional Buddhist scriptures.

"Students not only experience modern social and technological advancements, but also have the opportunity to study the religious theories they are interested in," Dra Ping said.

The college's aim is to enable students to learn about Buddhist philosophy with a contemporary worldview, as well as the world of natural sciences through a range of comparative studies, he said.

This idea of education resonates with the government's policy emphasis on the preservation of indigenous culture and religions. And the fruits of such policies extend to the daily lives of every child in Xizang, propelling them on the road to a bright future.

（来源：CGTN）