Historical Context
Legacy of Poverty and Child Labour
In rural Tibet, the struggle with poverty often forces children into labor instead of school, limiting their future opportunities. This labor, rooted in cultural practices where all family members contribute to survival, undervalues education's potential to change lives. Additionally, malnutrition, a common issue due to poverty, weakens children's ability to learn by affecting their development. This creates a cycle where the lack of education perpetuates poverty.
Language Barriers and Cultural Misalignment
In Tibet, teaching in schools is mostly done in Mandarin, a language many Tibetan students don't speak at home. This leads to confusion and academic struggles, especially with complex subjects. The use of a foreign language in education can cause students to disengage or even drop out, highlighting the need for teaching methods that are both understandable in their own language and respectful of their culture.
Educational Undervaluation within the Family structure
In rural Tibet, where farming and herding are common, families often don't see the importance of school education, choosing work over learning due to immediate needs. This mindset leads to children valuing physical work more than academic or intellectual growth, creating a cycle that keeps the educational system weak, with low motivation among students and ineffective teaching methods.
Historical Context of Educational Disparities
Tibet's education has long faced challenges due to its historical isolation and clashes between traditional ways and modern integration efforts. Political tensions and efforts to use Mandarin in schools have also strained Tibet's educational progress, making it hard for Tibetan children to blend into the wider national education system.