The Tibet Autonomous Region, in southwest China, strives to eradicate illiteracy by and large among local Tibetans aged from 15 to 50 in the next three years.

By 2007, the ratio of young and middle-aged illiterates in Tibet's total population will be lowered to five percent, said Song Heping, director of the Regional Educational Department on Tuesday.

Tibet has some 450,000 young and middle-aged illiterates. By 2003, the autonomous regional government helped 4,000 of them learn how to read and write annually. This figure rose to 90,000 as from last year.

"Illiteracy eradication is by no means our sole purpose. We tried to make illiterate Tibetans to acquire practical skills through their own efforts to learn to read and write," Song added.

Regional statistics showed that the income of locals has much to do with the educational background of a family. The annual income of a household headed by an illiterate averaged 3,000 yuan (about US$360), whereas the income for a household headed by a junior middle school graduate was 6,000 yuan (some US$720), and that for a household headed by a college graduate exceeded 12,000 yuan (US$1,445).

The anti-illiteracy campaign has basically been completed in urban districts. The region will focus its anti-illiteracy effort on outlying pastoral and rural areas, Song acknowledged.

Local farmers and herdsmen are encouraged to attend the anti-illiteracy classes in slack farming season or at night schools and learn modern production techniques.

By 2010, the nine-year compulsory education will be popularized throughout the region, where there will not be young illiterates any more, Song said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2004)