BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Skills of the Tibetan farmers and herdsmen who have received training in construction will be assessed next year, according to the Tibet Autonomous Regional Construction Department.

    Those meeting the job's qualifications will be granted the job qualification certificates.

A teacher from Gonggar County, southeastern Tibet's Shannan Prefecture, shows his students how to make traditional Tibet-style furniture in this undated file photo.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

     The department began in 2005 to provide pilot training courses for Tibetan farmers and herdsmen in Damxung Nyemo and Dagze counties in Lhasa.

    Tibet now has 187 construction companies based in various counties and townships and 50,000 farmers and herdsmen are engaging in the building industry, which has enabled them to earn 700 million yuan every year.

    Since 2006, the department has been holding such training courses for farmers and herdsmen across Tibet on construction, such as plastering and carpentry.

    To date, 14,300 farmers and herdsmen have attended the courses.

    (Source: Lhasa Evening News)