May 24, 2023 -- The 2023 Xizang Development Forum is to kick off tomorrow in Beijing. Ahead of the forum, a group of diplomats has visited schools in Lhasa and talked to students from various ethnic groups, to find out more about Xizang's education development. CGTN's Zhang Siran has the story.

 

With the help of aid programs and government support, Xizang's education is undergoing a transformation.

 

ZHANG SIRAN Lhasa, Xizang "Today, we visited a high school and a university to see how children and students are given equal access to education."

 

Here at Lhasa Beijing Experimental School, a junior and senior boarding school with more than 2,500 students, a traditional calligraphy class is offered to eighth-year students at least twice a week.

 

SONAM DORJE Calligraphy Teacher "Beautiful hand-writing is important for their future exams. Although they knew how to write the 30 letters already, we are helping them to perfect it. Our students are also self-motivated."

 

PASANG LHAMO Student "I learned how to write from my grandpa. I love Xizang's calligraphy and literature. I want to further study it in college."

 

In 2022, Xizang's retention rate for compulsory education reached over 96 percent. The development of education was acknowledged by the visiting diplomats.

 

H.E. JAIME ADRIANO FLORCRUZ Ambassador of the Philippines to China "I learned that most of the students here do not have to pay a single dollar or money. The local students can learn new things, but also while preserving their own culture, their own language. We believe in globalization, but also we believe in respect for indigenous or ethnic cultures. And that we believe in learning from each other. Only by learning from each other can we progress together."

 

Education not only resolves difference but also connects Xizang with the world. Thanks to digitization, rescued copies of ancient literature works can be accessed around the globe. At the library of Xizang University, more than 160,000 volumes of ancient books have been collected and restored.

 

SHERAB SANGPO Director, Tibetan Ancient Books Institute Tibet University "While collecting and protecting ancient books, we want to develop and utilize them better. We have made many e-copies of the books to open a library online. This is convenient for both home and overseas students and scholars to browse and research."

 

H.E. MARIA GUSTAVA Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to China "I really was very impressed to see the children at school. They will have their learning, and also to see nice roads. The ethnic groups of Tibetan now are living together as a unity. There you could not see the difference, no discrimination."

 

With improvements in basic, vocational, and what's known as quality education, Xizang's future generations are able to pursue their aspirations according to their full potential. Zhang Siran, CGTN, Lhasa.