In the remote highlands of Xizang Autonomous Region's Baingoin County, perched over 4,500 meters above sea level, the sound of children's laughter echoes across the playground of a local primary school.

Here, students are learning not only math and language but also gzhas chen, a traditional Tibetan dance. The curriculum blends physical education with cultural heritage, helping students build both strength and identity from an early age.

Built with an investment of over 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) from Sinopec, the school has undergone significant expansion over the past decade. Today, it serves more than 1,300 students from surrounding pastoral communities. Half of the students board on campus, while the rest commute from home. The school teaches in both Tibetan and Mandarin, ensuring students' access to quality education while preserving their cultural roots.

"My home is more than 100 kilometers away," one Tibetan boarding student told China Media Group (CMG). "I really like it here. The food in school is delicious, there are lots of children, and our teachers teach us football and basketball."

"Families have entrusted us with their children. It's our responsibility to give them the best possible education," the school's principal told CMG.

"Three Guarantees" policy transforms local education

Xizang's educational transformation has been fueled in part by China's long-standing "Three Guarantees" policy, which covers food, boarding, and tuition for children from farming, herding, and low-income urban families.

Introduced in 1985 and expanded in recent years, the policy has significantly boosted enrollment and retention rates across the region. Since 2012, the central government has increased the per-student funding standard 11 times, with the current level set at 5,620 yuan per student annually. To date, the total investment of the initiative has exceeded 23 billion yuan.

"The 'Three Guarantees' policy, along with a robust student aid system, has changed how families view education," said Dawa Zhoima, deputy director of the Xizang Autonomous Region's Education Department. "It has encouraged more rural and pastoral families to send their children to school, played a key role in eradicating illiteracy among Tibetan youth, and helped reduce the financial burden on farmers and herders. For many, education has transformed their lives, lifting their families out of poverty."

Thanks to the sustained investment, Xizang's education system has achieved historic progress, with major indicators now matching or surpassing national averages. By the end of 2024, the region reported a gross preschool enrollment rate of 91.33 percent, a nine-year compulsory education retention rate of 97.86 percent, a high school enrollment rate of 91.56 percent, and a higher education enrollment rate of 57.81 percent.

A new era for education in Xizang

Beyond the "Three Guarantees" policy, the central government has also supported Xizang through large-scale infrastructure development, national teacher training programs, and targeted funding for rural and high-altitude areas.

Between 2014 and 2024, Xizang invested more than 302 billion yuan in education. In 2024 alone, the region allocated 254 million yuan to build or expand 25 kindergartens, establishing a four-tier early education system across cities, counties, townships, and villages. The total number of kindergartens in the region now stands at 2,474.

Most schools have been rebuilt from traditional stone or wooden structures into modern, earthquake-resistant facilities. Today's students attend classes in well-equipped buildings with libraries, laboratories, dormitories, and internet-connected classrooms. The spread of digital tools has also brought high-quality educational resources to remote areas.

Additional projects – such as safe drinking water initiatives and heating systems for high-altitude schools – have further improved students' living and learning conditions.

With aligned policy, funding and infrastructure, the Xizang Autonomous Region has made a historic leap since its founding in 1965. In 1965, the region had just five middle schools and 68 primary schools. Today, it is home to 3,618 schools, staffed by nearly 97,000 educators and serving 970,000 students – more than a quarter of the region's population.

From simply ensuring access to education, Xizang is now moving toward delivering high-quality learning and broader opportunities for its next generation.