Tibetan leaders sound alarm over China's colonial-style boarding schools
- In Reports
- 10:47 AM, Sep 13, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Tibetan government-in-exile has raised serious concerns over China’s expansion of colonial-style boarding schools in Tibet, viewing these schools as a key part of Beijing’s efforts to assimilate the Tibetan population and erode its distinct cultural identity. In a statement, the Tibetan leadership condemned the forced separation of Tibetan children from their families and communities, claiming that the children are denied the opportunity to learn their native language and practice their cultural and religious traditions.
According to reports, over 1,700 Tibetan monks, particularly from regions like Ngaba in Eastern Tibet, have been forcibly enrolled in these schools. This includes very young children who are taken away from their monastic communities and placed in state-controlled institutions. Parents who resist this forced enrolment face intimidation, including threats of losing government benefits or even imprisonment.
Dolma Norzin, the Minister of Information and International Relations for the Tibetan government-in-exile emphasised that these actions are part of a wider campaign by China to erase Tibetan culture. The schools, she explained, are designed to disconnect children from their heritage, pushing Mandarin Chinese as the primary language and promoting loyalty to the Chinese state.
Tibetan leaders are appealing to the international community to take urgent action to protect the rights of Tibetan children and prevent further cultural erasure. They argue that the Chinese government’s policies not only violate human rights but also threaten the survival of Tibet’s unique cultural and religious traditions.
China, on the other hand, claims that these boarding schools are aimed at improving education and economic opportunities for Tibetans, denying allegations of cultural suppression. Despite these assertions, Tibetans in exile and human rights organisations continue to express alarm at the long-term impact these schools could have on the preservation of Tibetan identity.
Image source: ANI
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