A report by the Tibetan Action Institute reveals that over one million Tibetan children are forcibly placed in Chinese-run boarding schools in Tibet, where they face indoctrination and cultural erasure.
More than one million Tibetan children, including at least 100,000 preschoolers aged 4 to 6, have been forcibly enrolled in boarding schools operated by the Chinese government in Tibet. This report was released by the Tibetan Action Institute (TAI) on Friday, highlighting concerns over the Chinese authorities’ assimilation policies targeting Tibetan culture and identity.
Parents of affected children have reported instances of abuse, neglect, and indoctrination within these schools, where students are allegedly subjected to systematic “identity erasure.” The boarding schools are part of a larger network which includes preschools aimed at integrating Tibetan children into mainstream Chinese culture.
A statement from TAI emphasized that the Chinese government is not only interfering in the traditional reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama but is also pursuing policies that threaten the distinct cultural identity of Tibetans. The statement accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of orchestrating a “student colonization” strategy to erase Tibet’s 4,700-year-old cultural heritage.
Dr. Gyal Lo, a Tibetan sociologist involved in the report’s fieldwork, shared his insights after fleeing Tibet in 2020. Dr. Lo estimates that a significant number of preschoolers from rural parts of Tibet have been taken from their families and placed in these boarding schools. Furthermore, approximately 900,000 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 are also reported to be housed in such facilities.
The report also highlights the forcible transfer of monks and nuns under 18 to these schools. Dr. Lo reportedly visited over 50 boarding preschools in the Amdo and Kham provinces of Tibet, determining that at least 100,000 Tibetan children are currently living in preschool residential institutions throughout the region.
The indoctrination process allegedly starts from a very young age in these boarding schools, with children restricted from speaking their native Tibetan language. Instead, they are taught in Chinese, learn to speak only Chinese, and are instructed in a curriculum that includes state-approved history. This education emphasizes the centrality of Chinese identity, history, culture, and the significance of the Communist Party of China.
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