March 15, 2019 (Xinhua) – Geneva Experts testifying at a side event of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council here on Thursday stated that China has made tremendous strides toward preserving the right to education of ethnic minorities during its development.
Chinese experts and scholars from universities and research institutions presented findings on China’s efforts to guarantee ethnic minorities’ right to education in its modernization, with a focus on Xizang Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, during the event, which was hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies.
In order to achieve modernization, which is a critical sign of high-quality development, education is essential. According to Wang Yanwen, deputy secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, “the right to education for ethnic minorities has received increasing attention with the acceleration of human civilization, as it is closely related to the modernization of China and the world.”
Researchers Liang Junyan of the China Tibetology Research Center’s Institute of History Studies presented examples of Tibetan pupils whose lives were transformed by learning. According to her, Xizang’s educational advancements have strengthened the cultural literacy of the region’s ethnic groups and given the region’s advancements in economics, society, and culture substantial talent support.
Education in the region has advanced significantly as a result of China’s efforts to protect ethnic minorities’ right to an education in Xizang, according to Jia Chunyang, executive director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations’ Center for Economic and Social Security Studies.
Associate professor Tuersun Aibai of Xinjiang University’s School of Journalism and Communication emphasized Xinjiang’s ongoing efforts to defend every ethnic group’s right to education, particularly that of minorities.
Xinjiang has been pushing the teaching of the national common language, expanding access to education, and boosting educational spending. In primary and secondary schools, it has implemented classes in Uygur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, and Xibe languages, completely ensuring minority students’ right to learn their own languages, said Aibai.
The director of the Northwest University of Political Science and Law’s Center for International Communication and Cultural Security Studies, Qiao Basheng, stated that contemporary education in China protects ethnic minorities’ rights to preserve their unique identities and dignity while also giving them avenues and opportunities to engage in the country’s development.
The entitlement to education for ethnic minorities who have impairments is an example of social fairness and equity, and it is crucial for advancing social development. Xizang and Xinjiang have achieved remarkable progress in this area, according to Zhou Lulu, vice dean of Guangzhou University’s Institute for Human Rights.
According to Li Juan, a researcher at Central South University’s Human Rights Studies Center, China has consistently reinforced the legal framework protecting ethnic minorities’ right to education by creating and enforcing a number of education regulations.
According to Gong Xianghe, executive director of Southeast University’s Institute for Human Rights Studies, educational digitalization will become a stronger motivator for the protection of ethnic minorities’ right to education as China’s educational system modernizes. However, educational informatization is still necessary to guarantee that ethnic minorities have access to education.
Simultaneously, a photo exhibition titled “Modern Life of ethnic minorities in China” showcased the ways in which China’s ethnic minorities are advancing modernization in several domains such as politics, economy, social work, and culture.