BEIJING, April 5 -- Half a century ago learning the Tibetan language was a privilege reserved for a only few Tibetan children. But now, almost every child enrolled in the region's primary schools learns to read and write in the local language.

    In addition, with the social and economic development of the region, English has gradually become another important course taught in Tibetan schools.

    Tibetan class

    Twelve year old Dawa Zichu is enrolled in the sixth grade in Lhasa's No. 1 primary school. From a Tibetan ethnic family, Dawa receives education in both the Tibetan and Han languages.

    "I like learning Tibetan and the Han language equally. I think they are very useful. In our daily lives, we use them both."

    The school Dawa attends was the first primary school officially established in Lhasa, following the liberation of the region 50 years ago. It's also the first primary school where children from ordinary families can receive education in Tibetan reading and writing.

    Yan Zhongyi, the school's principal, said: "Since the school was founded, the Tibetan language course has been established as a major course for our students, in an effort to retain and develop the Tibetan language. Previously there were only temples that taught monks or nuns in Tibetan, or privileged schools for noble families."

    Different from the past when people hardly had any chance to learn reading and writing, now every primary school in Lhasa teaches the Tibetan language. Ethnic Tibetan children can now learn both Tibetan and the Han language.

    "Tibetan language teaching has always been a focus of our work. Our task is to make sure that every child graduating from this primary school can handle enough Tibetan language in their daily life."

    Meanwhile as the region has begun opening up to the outside world more and more, Tibetan people have also realized the importance of learning English. Besides Tibetan and Chinese, English has become another important language course for Children throughout Tibet.

    English class

    Dawa said he began learning English from kindergarten.

    "English is very interesting and not difficult. I think it's very useful. I can introduce the interesting things here to foreign people."

    Dawa said although he can meet many foreign tourists in Lhasa, he is still too shy to talk with them. However, when he grows up he wants to work in the area of customs, using fluent Tibetan, Han and English.