ANN/CHINA DAILY – Preschool education was a luxury for many youngsters in the rural Qumarleb county of Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Northwest China’s Qinghai province.
The county, which is located in the Yellow River’s source area, has an average elevation of more than 4,500 metres and a population of 47,000.
With parents travelling for months at a time to graze herds, these nomadic children had difficulty attending school, particularly kindergarten, for many years.
Last year, China Energy Corp, commonly known as CHN Energy, spent CNY13.5 million (USD1.85 million) in a kindergarten project, which transformed the situation. Fifteen kindergartens have been built in six villages and towns around the county using shipping containers. Each school has a capacity of 30 pupils.
“All the classrooms have heating and lighting powered by photovoltaic systems,” Vice-Head of Qumarleb county Dong Zhu said adding that the locations of the kindergartens are selected in accordance with the winter and summer pastures and pastoral migration routes.
So far, more than 700 children are enrolled at these kindergartens.
Tsering Dradul, Deputy Principal of one of the kindergartens, is glad to see the students enjoying their time at school.
Before his kindergarten had a classroom last year, he and the teachers had to teach children in makeshift tents.
