InPics: Free preschool education extended to cover kids from plateau pastures in NW China

Kids walk out of their classroom for outdoor activities at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

YUSHU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Qumarleb County in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province is located in the source region of the Yellow River, with an average altitude of over 4,500 meters. Children here live with their families on expansive grasslands far from county seats and towns.

Through years of efforts by local government, free preschool education has been extended to distant pasturing areas. Just around their home, children have chance to be taught by kindergarten teachers from town seats.

Since 2022, 15 kindergartens with heating and illumination equipment powered by photovoltaic systems have been built in Qumarleb County by CHN Energy. Up to now, more than 700 children in these pasturing areas have been recruited to these kindergartens near their living places.

Pusum Dongdrup walks to his classroom at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

Sonam Drolma (R) is in class at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023.(Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

Tenzin Pasang (L) plays with other kids in a classroom at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

Tsering Dradul (3rd L), the deputy principal of a kindergarten, prepares lunch for children at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

Pusum Dongdrup (2nd L) plays with other kids in a classroom at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Fangfang)

Tsering Dradul (2nd R), the deputy principal of a kindergarten, interacts with a boy at the kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

A girl says goodbye to her teacher after school at a kindergarten in Qumarleb County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)■