The Failure of Vocational Training in Tibetan Areas of China

China has undergone profound economic change and growth since economic reforms began in the late 1970s. Although associated policies provided many business opportunities in Tibetan areas of China, Tibetans remain poorly equipped to respond to and take advantage of these opportunities. The reasons for this are complex, difficult to assess, and include political, social, cultural, and environmental factors. An examination of current educational practice with a focus on vocational education in Tibetan areas of the PRC suggests that poor education is key to explaining the inability of Tibetans to compete economically with non-Tibetan migrants.