Abstract:        The western ethnic areas of China have rich natural and humanistic resources but at the meantime are less advanced in  economy, science and technology. In addition, there are multiple types and levels of development in different regions. These  fundamental features determine that the development of western ethnic areas should be based on the improvement of human capital  which could provide labor resources for sustainable development. Therefore, for further development of the areas, we should attach  priority to educational development. The new concept of education development priority means creating a characteristic system of science and education which fits the features of the western ethnic areas, constructing a benign ecology of nature and culture for the west, harmonizing the coexistence between man and nature and the co-prosperity of the humanistic education, and further promoting the sustainable development in the west. In order to attain this goal, the following four types ofrelations should be handled properly,namely the priority on the humanistic development, the priority on the subject of education, the priority on the educational activities,and the priority on the education  career.

Key words: ethnic  , education｜western ethnics｜ priority of education development