LHASA - China has spent more than 8 billion yuan ($1.25 billion) subsidizing farmers' children in Tibet to attend boarding schools since introducing the policy three decades ago, the regional education department said Thursday.

China provides free education for school-aged children in Tibet. Since 1985, it has also allowed the children of farmers and herdsmen to enjoy free accommodation, meals and tuition at boarding schools.

The subsidy has been raised on 14 occasions. In the fall semester of 2015, boarders in Tibetan kindergartens through to senior high schools are receiving 3,000 yuan each on average, about 10 times more than the sum given in 1985.

That year, the subsidy was only applied to public primary and middle schools. Now, it covers all preschools, middle schools and vocational schools in Tibet. In 2012, the policy was expanded to include children of highway maintenance workers in the region.