It was probably the most unforgettable and exciting moment of
Zhamdu's life when he was presented with his graduation and
master's degree certificates by Liu Qinghui, president of
Tibet University.
Zhamdu, 34, who majored in Tibetology during the past three years,
was awarded a master of law. He was moved to tears Wednesday when
he presented a bunch of flowers to his mentor Puncog Cering, a
noted expert in Tibetology, to express his gratitude.
Zhamdu is one of the first group of post-graduates trained
independently by universities in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in
southwest China. He and another nine people who completed their
post-graduate studies, were awarded graduation and master's degree
certificates.
In
addition to Zhamdu, Cering Bagzho and Lhaba Cering, who majored in
the history of the Tibetan ethnic group, and Dawa, Pucering and
Lobsang, who majored in the Tibetan language, also graduated from
the Tibet University.
Migmar, Soinam Qimei, Yangga and Yangmei from the College of
Tibetan Medicine, studied Tibetan medicine during the past three
years.
Liu Qinghui said the graduation of the first group of masters in
Tibet showed that higher education in the region had progressed to
a new level.
Tibet now has four institutions of higher learning, Tibet
University, the Tibet Institute for Nationalities, Tibet Institute
for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and the College of Tibetan
Medicine.
With more than 6,600 students on campus, these universities and
colleges have an 867-member faculty offering 50 undergraduate
courses and 63 courses for specialist training.
With the approval of the State Council, four post-graduate training
centers were set up in Tibet in 1998 and 2000.
Currently, 47 people are continuing their post-graduate studies in
12 specialties including ancient Tibetan language, the history of
relations between ethnic Tibetans and the Han nationality, the
modern history of Tibet, the history of art, traditional Tibetan
music and Tibetan medicine.
Migmar, now a master of Tibetan medicine, said, "We're honored to
be the first group of post-graduates trained in Tibet. It has been
made possible by the leadership of the Communist Party of China and
the concern of the motherland."
"It is the result of the Party's policies on nationalities, culture
and education, and shows the Party attaches great importance to
training high-level professionals for ethnic groups," she said.
In
old Tibet, there was not a single modern school and education was
controlled by temples. As a result, less than 2 percent of school
age children received schooling and the illiteracy rate among young
people was as high as 95 percent.
The majority of ordinary people in the region have had the right to
education since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951.The
central government of China has invested heavily to boost local
education, providing a comprehensive education system covering
liberal education, the education of pre-school children and adults,
vocational education and education for groups with special
needs.
By
2001, Tibet had 1,010 schools of various kinds, and more than
390,000 students. Over 87 percent of school age children were at
school and the illiteracy rate had dropped to less than 30
percent.
Puncog Cering, an expert in Tibetology, expressed his satisfaction
with the post-graduates' academic performance.
"I'm full of happiness, because it is the first time this has
happened in Tibet," he said.
(Xinhua News
Agency July 19, 2002)