Xizang's preschool and compulsory education achieve dramatic transformation

The Xizang autonomous region has witnessed a dramatic transformation in preschool and compulsory education over the past 65 years since democratic reform began in 1959, regional educational authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Statistics released by the regional department of education reflected that the region has 2,474 kindergartens, with nearly 90 percent of administrative villages having independent or joint kindergartens. The coverage of inclusive kindergartens has reached 100 percent, with 152,100 children enrolled, and the gross enrollment rate of preschool education has reached 90.43 percent.

Nyiphun, an official at the department's basic education office, said preschool education is the beginning of lifelong learning and an important part of the national education system.

"Running preschool education well is related to the healthy growth of many children, the vital interests of numerous families, and the nation's future," said Nyiphun.

According to the department, in Xizang before 1959, the enrollment rate of school-age children was less than 2 percent. Serfs, who accounted for 95 percent of the population, had no right to education, and there was not a single modern school in the entire region.

Following the region's democratic reform, remarkable achievements were made in the development of compulsory education as well.

By the end of 2010, the region had achieved a 100 percent coverage rate for the universalization of nine-year compulsory education and the eradication of illiteracy among young and middle-aged adults.

The enrollment rate of school-age children in primary school reached 99.2 percent, and that of junior high school reached 98.2 percent.

"The illiteracy rate among young and middle-aged people dropped to 1.2 percent, and the compulsory nine-year education and elimination of illiteracy tasks were comprehensively accomplished by 2010," he said.

He added that the consolidation rate of compulsory education in the whole region has reached 97.78 percent, surpassing the national average by 2.08 percent.

According to Phuchung, another official from the department's office of faculty, Xizang has always attached great importance to training the teaching faculty to meet the demands of high-quality education development.

"As of now, the region has 63,300 full-time teachers, with a qualification rate of 99.78 percent. The salary and benefits of teachers in compulsory education have been improved through a mechanism that adjusts in conjunction with the salaries of local civil servants," he said.