Teaching and Learning in Tibet: A Review of Research Policy Publications

Ellen Bangsbo
2006

The issue of schooling and education for Tibetan children in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) is the focus of increasing national and international attention. Here, special attention has been given to the concept of ‘quality education’. One should be aware that this concept is understood differently by different groups. Educationalists and NGOs with programmes in Tibet view ‘quality education’ from the international perspective of methodology and pedagogy; here, the aim is to teach children to think independently. In contrast, Chinese authorities promote ‘quality education’ as an antidote to ‘exam-oriented education’ and as a means to support nationalistic, patriotic and moral education. The challenge is to bridge these two views.
To this end, Teaching and Learning in Tibet provides an unbiased and comprehensive guide to documents and publications on schooling and education in Tibet dealing with issues relating to ‘quality education’, teaching and curriculum, bi- and trilingual teaching policies, teachers’ education, ‘key-schools’, access to school, and other challenges related to schooling in Tibet.