Despite official statements to the contrary, Chinese language continues to be the teaching medium in schools. Given the low prestige of working in Tibet, many of the Chinese teachers have few or any qualifications, but still earn significantly more than Tibetan teachers. There is a serious lack of continuity as teachers come and go. Between 1986 and 1988, the Head of English at Tibet University changed four times. Before 1950, Tibet had an extensive education system - mainly religious in content and run chiefly through the monasteries, although there were also a number of secular schools.
Religious teaching is forbidden now, except in the monasteries where it is severely restricted.
Teaching of Marxist ideology is paramount at every level of education. In December 1989, after the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, nine armed soldiers were installed at the entrances to universities, and no student was allowed in or out for 12 days. After this period, students had to do two weeks' military training and two weeks' political re-education. Propaganda drives to increase political control and content of school education in Tibet have intensified in the last few years. The slightest display of nationalism among schoolchildren leads to severe penalties.