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E-mail China.org.cn, April 8, 2025
CNN:
I believe Mr. Gama Cedain is likely aware of the following issue, which has been drawing international attention. In many Tibetan-populated areas, the closure of numerous rural Tibetan-language schools has forced many Tibetan children to attend public boarding schools, where the language of instruction appears to be exclusively Mandarin. We have seen statements from both relevant U.N. experts and the 14th Dalai Lama claiming that this is actually a measure by the Chinese government to intensify the assimilation or Sinicization of Tibetans. They argue that it could cause a significant number of Tibetan children to lose their mother tongue and potentially erode their cultural traditions and identity. My question for you is: Do you have any relevant data or facts that you can share? For example, how many school-age Tibetan children in the Xizang autonomous region have been sent to such boarding schools? What is the proportion? Do they still have opportunities to receive education in the Tibetan language at these schools? Of course, I would also like to hear your response to these concerns and criticisms. Thank you.
Gama Cedain:
Thank you very much for your questions. I believe this is an issue that many journalists are deeply interested in. I would like to invite Mr. Xu to answer these questions.
Xu Zhitao:
Thank you for your questions. This issue has attracted considerable attention from the outside world in recent years. I remember addressing it during a press conference last year. Let me break it down into a few points.
First, boarding school education is provided based on Xizang's actual conditions to meet the needs of Tibetan students. As we all know, Xizang is vast and sparsely populated, particularly in some agricultural and pastoral areas, where children face difficulties in accessing schools. The scattered nature of education in these regions makes it hard to maintain teaching quality. To address this, and in accordance with the country's Compulsory Education Law, boarding services are offered at certain schools. This approach is tailored to Xizang's unique circumstances and aligns with national laws.
Second, and this is what the outside world is most concerned about, our boarding system is actually completely voluntary. Whether students attend as day students or boarding students is entirely up to them and their parents. Even boarding students can go home on weekends and holidays, and their communication with their families remains seamless. In your question, you asked about the numbers. Because it's voluntary, the exact number of day students versus boarding students is dynamic and changes each year, depending on the preferences of students and their parents. In boarding schools, the curriculum that students learn is exactly the same for both day students and boarding students, as they all attend the same school. The only difference is that some students live too far away to commute, so they board at school. Day students live right next to the school. Therefore, the content they learn, including Tibetan language and culture, is identical. In fact, this boarding school system isn't unique to China or its Xizang autonomous region; it's a model adopted in many countries globally. It's an effective way to address the challenges of schooling posed by geographical conditions and other factors. After years of effort, the Xizang autonomous region has made significant progress. While ensuring access to education for Tibetan children, the boarding school system in Xizang has increasingly focused on providing high-quality education, aiming to cultivate students' long-term development capabilities. At school, there are various student clubs, and we also promote the inclusion of intangible cultural heritage into the curriculum. Through initiatives such as strengthening cooperation between families and schools, we support students' physical and mental well-being. These efforts effectively ensure that Tibetan children receive high-quality education, illustrating a significant manifestation of human rights development and progress in Xizang. Thank you.
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