Han Haijie is now a well-known tailor in Salar Autonomous County of Xunhua in the northwestern Qinghai Province. Years ago, however, the 39-year-old woman found it hard to make a decent living since she could not read or write.

"Literacy and vocational training changed my fate. The training provided me basic knowledge and a skill for living," Han said. "By tradition, girls like me were forbidden to go to school in Salar when I was young."

Han led a miserable life before she graduated from literacy classes and could earn more for her family.

"We even had no stools at that time and guests could just sit on ground," Han said, "I once tried to raise chickens, but they mostly died since I knew little about chicken farming."

Qinghai Province is one of China's major areas with large population of ethnic minorities. Among its 5.28 million residents, 45.5 percent are minority people, and many, especially women, are illiterate.

In Salar Autonomous County of Xunhua, for example, minority women comprise 90 percent of illiterate female population. Illiteracy has become a major barrier preventing them from enjoying equal rights in politics, economy, culture and education, according to Qinghai Education Department.

Qinghai Province responded to the needs of a large and geographically isolated population concentrating its efforts on women and ethnic minorities.

"When the county government opened literacy classes, I registered immediately. It is always good to learn," Han said.

The United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization awarded Qinghai Province 2004 King Sejong Literacy Prize for its outstanding achievement in eliminating illiteracy.

Programs in Qinghai have helped 106,000 people learn to read in the past four years.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2005)