project summary
tsolho prefecture junior middle school project

project goals & context | project description | planned activities

project goals & context

Trace Foundation’s longstanding commitment to education focuses on improving the quality of and access to educational opportunities in Tibetan areas of China. Since its inception, Trace Foundation has worked to strengthen Tibetan schools from the primary through postgraduate levels to better prepare students for future academic and employment opportunities. In 2007, Trace Foundation expanded its work with junior middle schools through the Tsolho Prefecture Junior Middle School Project (TJMSP), a three-year initiative to improve the quality of Tibetan-medium instruction at target junior middle schools in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities

project description

Recognizing the vital importance of junior middle schools in building both students’ capacity for academic achievement and overall confidence, Trace Foundation’s Junior Middle School Projects target areas key to long-term academic success. China’s education policy encourages mother-tongue instruction. Few models exist, however, for successful mother-tongue strategies in Tibetan schools, and many schools lack sufficient resources to implement new ideas. Focusing on four junior middle schools in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, the TJMSP project seeks to partner with education officials, school principals, parents, and teachers to develop a comprehensive, effective, Tibetan-medium education model for implementation at partner schools and for possible replication throughout Qinghai Province. Strategies for the model include:

Improving teacher training in subject matter and teaching methodologies;
Promoting successful language learning;
Creating well-managed schools;
Fostering a healthy learning environment;
Increasing access to education;
Increasing motivation for teachers and students;
Improving infrastructure and educational resources.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities

planned activities

Subject-area knowledge: Many teachers in Tibetan medium schools lack sufficient background in the subjects they teach. The TJMSP project will hold a series of intensive training courses at partner schools during summer and winter school breaks focusing on teachers' subject matter understanding.

16 teachers to receive subject-area training: 8 history and 8 political science teachers will receive subject-area training. The TJMSP project will award a scholarship to pursue a three-year dazhuan or a four-year bachelor's degree to the 10 best trainees over two years.
35 teachers to receive science-teaching training: Teachers from the four target schools of the TJMSP project are included in the Qinghai Science Teacher Training Project (QSTTP) where 35 biology, chemistry, physics, math, and geography teachers will complete content-area and science-teaching methodology training. Top participants will train other science teachers in prefecture schools, and the 10 best-performing trainers will be awarded a bachelor's degree scholarship from the QSTTP project.

Student-centered teaching methodology: Student-centered teaching methodology is on the rise in China, creating an interactive, empowering classroom environment. However, many Tibetan-medium schools lack resources to train teachers in these strategies.

8 teachers to be trained in new teaching-methodologies: 8 teachers from target schools as well as county education bureau staff will attend in-service teaching methodology workshops. Participating teachers will train their colleagues at each school.

Language teaching: Successful Tibetan-medium instruction hinges on high-quality Tibetan and Chinese language ability and teaching methodology skills. English skills are also increasingly important for students' access to higher education and professional opportunities.

Increasing Tibetan-language proficiency: Professional language instructors will train teachers at partner schools in methodologies to improve students' Tibetan-language speaking, writing, and reading skills.
Improving Chinese as a second language teaching: Experts from universities and key schools will conduct training in teaching Chinese as a second language for teachers from the four partner schools.
Enhancing English-language instruction: High quality, domestic English teachers will be placed in partner schools, and a native English-speaking teacher will conduct intensive trainings for English teachers.

School management: Strong management is key to the implementation of mother-tongue instruction. However, most rural school principals lack training to help them administer new models.

Improving principals' management skills: Principals at target schools will complete management training and undertake a study tour to learn from successful mother-tongue schools.

Health and hygiene awareness: Healthy students and a hygienic learning environment enable students to make the most of their education.

Training school community members: Health and hygiene trainings, particularly in student nutrition, will be held for principals, teachers, cooks, janitors, and parent representatives at all partner schools.

Student and teacher achievement recognition: A series of student and teacher competitions and awards are designed to encourage high academic achievement and teaching performance.

Organizing student essay competitions: Annual student essay competitions in English, Chinese, and Tibetan will be held during the project period.
Establishing outstanding teaching awards: Awards will be given to the most effective teachers at partner schools.
Holding academic competitions: Debates, quizzes, and other academic competitions will be held at partner schools, with awards given to the top 45 students.

Access to education: Many promising students abandon their education because they cannot afford school fees. Partner schools have created scholarship funds but cannot yet assist all students in need.

Augmenting scholarship funds: The TJMSP project will supplement existing scholarship funds at all four partner schools to increase access to education among poor students.

School facilities and resources: Many Tibetan-medium schools suffer from deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of high quality teaching and learning resources—all key to implementing new teaching strategies.

Updating science laboratories: The project will update science laboratories in partner schools to meet the national standard.
Supporting school libraries: Libraries in target schools will receive books in needed areas.
Filling gaps in existing resources: The TJMSP project will work with partner schools to identify and procure high quality Tibetan-medium teaching materials in needed subjects.
Improving school infrastructure: A small grants project will support repairs to school infrastructure and improvements to school resources.

Best practices: The project's overarching goal is to share best practices with other Tibetan medium schools to help strengthen Tibetan-medium education throughout Qinghai Province.

Learning from the pilot projects: A workshop following the project's conclusion will produce a revised model for potential replication. Project results and achievements will be shared with local counterparts and other interested parties.
Sharing information and resources: Teaching materials and health and hygiene training materials produced from this project will also be made available to other schools within Qinghai Province.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities

project summary tsolho prefecture junior middle school project

project goals & context

project description

planned activities

project: quick facts

project summary
tsolho prefecture junior middle school project