School life in Damxung County, China's Xizang

Sichod Drolma (C) and her father and sister pasture on the grassland in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Nov. 15, 2023.

Sichod Drolma is a student in Grade 8 at Damxung County Middle School. Her home is located in Choden Village of Lungring Township in Damxung County, at the southern foot of the Nyainqentanglha Range, with an average elevation of over 4,000 meters.

At school, Sichod Drolma and her 51 classmates are provided with Tibetan-Mandarin bilingual education.

Mathematics is the favorite subject of Sichod Drolma. "I feel satisfied when I succeed in solving math problems," the 15-year-old girl said.

After evening self-study hours everyday, Sichod Drolma walks back to the dormitory hand in hand with her friends and takes physical exercise. Roommates of Sichod Drolma always enjoy chatting with each other before falling asleep. The Tibetan girl said school is like her second home.

The plateau region has made significant strides in education over the past few decades. Since 2012, students there have enjoyed free board and lodging, and they are exempt from study costs from preschool to senior high school, spanning a total of 15 years. These measures have not only alleviated the financial burden on families but also eased parents' concerns regarding their children's education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)