The Chinese government has appropriated more than 200 million yuan in special funds to implement the religious policy in Tibet. For the renovation of the Potala Palace alone, the central government allotted more than 40 million yuan. To date, more than 1,400 religious centers have been renovated and opened to the public, meeting the needs of the religious people for their normal religious life. Development of Education and Culture Education in old Tibet was very backward, without schools in the modern sense. To develop education in Tibet, the government has invested more than 1.1 billion yuan and introduced a series of special policies over the past 40 years.
Education is free.
All the costs of Tibetan students, from primary school to university, are covered by the government. Since 1985, free food, clothing and accommodation have been provided for some Tibetan primary and middle school students, and boarding schools have been set up in the vast rural and pastoral areas. Priority is given to candidates of Tibetan and other local minorities in the enrollment of university, college, and secondary vocational school students. The Tibetan language is the common language for the whole autonomous region. In July 1987, the autonomous regional People's Congress adopted the Regulations which clearly stipulate that both Tibetan and Chinese languages should be used in the Tibet Autonomous Region.