China News Service, Geneva, March 15 (Reporter Tok Yongjian) On the 14th local time, during the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the China Human Rights Research Society held a themed side event in Geneva, Switzerland, taking China's Tibet and Xinjiang as examples. , conducted a discussion on "Ethnic Minorities' Right to Education in Modern Development."
Many participating scholars were interviewed by reporters from China News Service and shared their understanding of boarding education in Tibet and Xinjiang, China, based on relevant experiences.
During the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the China Human Rights Research Association held a side event on the theme of "Ethnic Minorities' Right to Education in Modern Development - Taking China's Tibet and Xinjiang as Examples" in Geneva, Switzerland on the 14th local time.
The picture shows Wang Yanwen (left), deputy secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, presiding over the side meeting.
Photo by China News Service reporter Tokunaga Ken
Liang Junyan, a researcher at the Institute of History at the China Tibetology Research Center, travels to various regions in Tibet to conduct field research every year.
She said that boarding is a common education method in China. Children from some high-altitude areas in Tibet go to Lhasa to study. The school provides them with very good conditions and the teachers are also very serious and responsible.
"Students can play football and do sports in the large playground. The cafeteria is also very clean. There are also cultural interest groups such as traditional Tibetan dance, Tibetan musical instruments, and Tibetan calligraphy."
Tursun Abai, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication of Xinjiang University, also said that the boarding education policy is implemented in all parts of China. Xinjiang is vast and sparsely populated, and many schools are far away from students’ families.
In order to ensure the personal safety of students and provide a comfortable learning environment, Xinjiang has invested a lot of money to provide school accommodation, food and other assistance to children living in remote areas, fully protecting their right to education.
The picture shows Tursun Abai (middle), associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication of Xinjiang University, speaking at a side meeting.
Photo by China News Service reporter Tokunaga Ken
Qiao Basheng, director of the International Communication and Cultural Security Research Center of Northwest University of Political Science and Law and researcher at the Human Rights Research Center, was born in Xinjiang and spent his elementary and middle school years in Bole City, a small border town in the northwest of Xinjiang.
In his speech, he pointed out that many of his high school classmates came from rural and pastoral areas. At that time, the school did not have boarding conditions, so they had no choice but to rent a house.
In recent years, some places in Xinjiang have set up boarding schools based on actual needs to create a good learning environment for students, ensure their personal safety, and reduce the financial pressure on parents.
"Boarding students can choose to go home every weekend, holiday, winter and summer vacation. Parents can visit their children at school at any time, and can also take their children home as needed. At the same time, relevant schools generally offer traditional courses such as ethnic minority languages and folk dances. Cultural courses provide traditional ethnic food, and students can wear ethnic costumes during school," Qiao Basheng said.
The picture shows the side event venue.
Photo by China News Service reporter Tokunaga Ken
Jia Chunyang, executive director of the Economic and Social Security Research Center of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, believes that these accusations are ridiculous.
"Field surveys and anonymous questionnaires show that most students are very satisfied with their study and living conditions. Real first-hand information proves that boarding schools in Tibet are very well run and are well adapted to Tibet's vast territory and sparsely populated natural conditions."
Jia Chunyang pointed out that the Chinese government has made great efforts to protect the Tibetan ethnic minority people’s right to education and promoted the development of Tibetan education.
Before 1959, when statistics are available, the illiteracy and semi-illiteracy rate in Tibet was as high as over 95%. Now, as of 2022, the gross enrollment rate in preschool education reaches 89.52%, and the gross enrollment rate in high school reaches 91.07%. These indicators have reached or exceeded the national average. level.
The picture shows a Chinese folding fan as a souvenir of the conference, with the words "People's happy life is the greatest human right" written on it.
Photo by China News Service reporter Tokunaga Ken
Regarding the development of education in Xinjiang, Tursun Abai bluntly said, "We are in the best period in Xinjiang's history." China has increased investment in education, provided free education, guaranteed the rights of ethnic minority students to learn their own languages, We have vigorously cultivated high-level talents from ethnic minorities, fully guaranteed the right to education for ethnic minority people in Xinjiang, and made unremitting efforts to enable ethnic minority people to enjoy a better life.
"My personal experience tells me that in China, modern education has ignited the dreams of countless ethnic minority students to change their personal destiny." Qiao Basheng said.
(over)