The expenditure on education has accounted for more than 20 percent of a local family's total income in recent years, according to a recent survey.

The disposable income of Lhasa residents has increased rapidly along with the fast development of the local economy in recent years. By the end of 1999, the per capita disposable income was 5,998 yuan.

Competition for an educated workforce in the future society is another factor that stimulates Lhasa residents to invest more in education of their children, the survey reveals.

The survey shows that expenditures on kindergarten education accounts for over 50 percent of the total. Well-trained teachers and advanced equipment are attracting more and more local parents to send their children to learn foreign languages, computers and music in some local kindergartens.

Local bookstores are often crowded with parents who buy reading materials and discs for their children.

A shop assistant said that teaching materials, books on science and technology, social sciences, politics and policies, and dictionaries sold very well in recent years. Most buyers are Tibetans, he said.

A mother said that "I would like to invest more in the education of my children, so that they can learn more knowledge and become well-educated."

(People's Daily 12/22/2000)