CPPCC Members proud of Tibet's progress in Education
By ZAN JIFANG

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pupils in Tibet use the same textbook as inland students have, while still learning the Tibetan language.
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Tibet today is not as it was 50. or regarding education," said Zhoima and Tubdain Kaizhub, Tibetan members of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body.

Zhoima, 43 Deputy Headmistress of an elementary school in Lhasa, capital of Tibet autonomous Region, said that pupils in Tibet use the same textbook as inland students have, while still learning the Tibetan language. "They pay less to enter school than students in inland areas of China," she added.

Zhoima said pupils in her school begin learning English from the first grade, which is unusual even in many inland cities. "This is due to an increased investment in elementary education by the Central Government," she said.

"A young teacher in our school earns more than 2,000 yuan a month, and all of our teachers have had a university education. One-third of our students are form the Han ethnic group, and they get on well along with their Tibetan school-mates," Zhoima stressed.

A graduate of the Department of mathematics of Lanzhou University in Gansu Province, Zhoima began teaching math at he school 20 years ago, and was appointed deputy headmistress in 1998.

Tubdain Kaizhub, 38,has worked for nearly 15 years in Tibet's higher educational field. After graduating from Southeast China Normal University in 1988,Tubdain Kaizhub returned to Tibet, giving up many chances to work in inland cities. He is now an associate professor and deputy dean of the Economics and Management Department of Tibet University, founded in 1959 when Tibet carried out democratic reform. Called Tibet Normal University in the 1970s, it began using its current name in 1985.

"Tibetans account for 60 percent of the total enrollment of the university's students," said Tubdain Kaizhub. His department has nine majors, 16 classes and over 500 students. "There are quite a number of foreign students at Tibet University," he said.

According to Tubdain Kaizhub, there are currently four universities in Tibet,

"Tibet University is planning to integrate with Tibet Agriclture and Pasturing University. Doing so will bring the total number of Tibet University's students to over 5,000," Tubdain Kaizhub continued.

"My university encourages teachers to receive advanced education," he said. "During their absence, the university will invite teachers from inland universities to replace them."

Tubdain Kaizhub said teachers in Tibet enjoy a high social status. "People admire us very much," he added.

Tubdain Kaizhub often exchanges teaching information online with scholars and experts from universities across the country, and believes that the Internet has connected Tibet closer to the outside world.

Both Zhoima and Tubdain Kaizhub are newly-elected CPPCC National Committee members. Zhoima said the CPPCC session provides her with great opportunities to learn from other members in the educational circle, and to introduce Tibet's educational status quo to others. Taking there proposals to this year's CPPCC session, tubdain Kaizhub calls for more aid from inland areas toward Tibet's teacher training program, and suggests setting up a doctorial research program in Tibet to push for-ward academic studies of Tibet's history, religion and culture.

Zhoima and Tubdain Kaizhub said they are resolved to fully exercise their right to give valuable advice.

"We represent the interests of thousands of Tibetans," they said. "Responsibilities are much heavier than honors."