China |
Empowered transformation | |
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![]() Tuersun Aibai
I was born into an ordinary family in a southern prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. My father was a bank clerk and my mother a housewife dedicated to caring for her seven children.
In 1996, when my father passed away, I was only in sixth grade, and my younger brother was in third grade. Despite this challenging situation, all seven siblings in our family received full-time education. In 2005, I was admitted into Shanghai-based Fudan University, one of China's premier educational institutions, after passing the national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao. Upon entering Fudan, I received financial aid of 10,000 yuan ($1,390), which exceeded the university's tuition fee of 6,000 yuan ($834) that year. My academic journey continued at Beijing-based Tsinghua University, also a top university, where I was accepted for both my master's and doctoral studies under a program supporting the development of ethnic minority personnel. I was fortunate to receive various scholarships and grants from Tsinghua totaling over 150,000 yuan ($21,000), which further facilitated my research and academic progress. Among the seven children in my family, three have obtained a bachelor's degree or higher, while four have earned their high school diplomas. Inclusive education The rigorous gaokao is a huge hurdle for students striving for admission to top universities. The challenges of pursuing higher education, such as a master's or doctoral degree, are even more pronounced for students in Xinjiang due to the disparities in educational resources between the region and more developed areas of China. Economic constraints compound these challenges. Families in underdeveloped areas in Xinjiang often lacked the financial means to prioritize education and, particularly, the ability to pay for the costs of attending university far from home. The government has implemented a range of financial support mechanisms, including tuition waiver, student loans, scholarships and work-study programs, to assist students facing financial challenges, like myself, to complete our education. Government policies that specifically lower admission thresholds for ethnic minority students have improved their access to advanced education and provided opportunities that were previously unattainable. Without such targeted policies, many students from our region would have been unable to pursue their academic dreams. Remarkable progress has been made in promoting educational advancement in Xinjiang, particularly for ethnic minorities. In 1949, Xinjiang grappled with an illiteracy rate exceeding 90 percent, but by 2022, this figure had been reduced to 2.66 percent, lower than the national average of 2.67 percent. Back in 1949, Xinjiang's educational infrastructure was minimal, with just one university, nine middle schools, and 1,355 primary schools, resulting in a meager 19.8-percent enrollment rate among school-age children. Things are very different nowadays. By 2020, every village had its own kindergarten. The region had 3,641 primary schools, 1,211 regular middle schools, 147 secondary vocational institutions and 62 colleges and universities. The statistics reflect a dramatic improvement in educational participation, with preschool enrollment exceeding 98 percent and primary school enrollment rates above 99.9 percent. In 2020, school enrollment in Xinjiang totaled 6.497 million, with ethnic minorities making up 74.57 percent at 4.845 million. Remarkably, by that year, 16,536 out of every 100,000 residents in the region had attained university-level education. Overall, the region had produced 2.12 million college graduates, 767,000 of whom were from ethnic minorities, comprising 36.3 percent of all graduates. After graduating from Tsinghua, a group of us returned to Xinjiang, especially remote areas of the region, driven by the idea of serving the communities where we are needed most. Education at the nation's top universities is not just about acquiring knowledge—it is about bringing transformative ideas and approaches to regions that need them most. Today, as an educator, I teach both undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom come from remote areas of Xinjiang. Working with local communities, we experienced the realities of life for ordinary people—their struggles, hopes and daily challenges. These encounters have deepened our sense of responsibility and our commitment to contributing to the region's development. Bridges of understanding One of the dreadful challenges in southern Xinjiang over the past decade has been combating the influence of extremism, whose believers distort the core teachings of religion and exploit the vulnerabilities of communities with limited education. This issue is not unique to Xinjiang, but is exacerbated here by the region's historical underdevelopment and lower educational attainment among certain groups. Efforts to counter extremism have included expanding access to free education to 15 years, spanning from kindergarten through high school, in the Xinjiang since late 2017. These initiatives have enabled more people to critically evaluate extremist ideas and embrace a stronger sense of law and order. Xinjiang's progress has not been without external challenges. International media coverage often paints a distorted picture of the region. In a study I conducted, we analyzed nearly 30,000 articles from 22 overseas media outlets in 15 countries and regions. These reports, predominantly written by journalists and editors far removed from Xinjiang, lacked firsthand understanding and relied heavily on biased language. Their narrative has tangible consequences. The U.S. has sanctioned many companies on false charges of "forced labor," directly harming Uygur workers. Other companies, fearing penalties, are less willing to hire Uygur employees. These actions go beyond propaganda; they represent a strategic attempt to stifle Xinjiang's economic growth and undermine its people's livelihoods. Reflecting on my own journey, I initially pursued a degree in broadcast journalism but later added a second major in law during my studies at Fudan. My education in journalism introduced me to the foundational principles of media ethics, particularly the importance of objectivity and fairness. This academic foundation reinforced my commitment to addressing misconceptions about Xinjiang and advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the region. As a Uygur academic, I feel a profound responsibility to speak out. My role is to advocate the truth and ensure that the achievements and aspirations of our people are recognized and that Xinjiang continues to thrive. The challenges we face—whether internal or external—highlight the importance of unity, progress and a shared vision for a better future. Xinjiang's story is not one of isolation but one of integration and development, a testament to what can be achieved through perseverance, understanding and collective effort. As we look to the future, the focus must remain on building bridges—between communities, regions and nations. Through collaboration and mutual respect, we can address the complex challenges of our time and ensure that Xinjiang's progress continues. XT The author is an associate professor with the School of Journalism and Communication, Xinjiang University Comments to liwenhan@cicgamericas.com |
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