China Shuts Three Tibetan Schools in Golog, Sparking Assimilation Fears
Chinese authorities have closed three private Tibetan schools in Golog, forcing students into Mandarin-medium state institutions.
In a move that has sparked serious concerns over the survival of cultural identity, Chinese authorities have shut down at least three privately run Tibetan schools in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture within a matter of weeks. This crackdown has stripped hundreds of children of their right to Tibetan-medium education, according to a report released by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
The CTA alleges that these closures are not isolated incidents but part of a calculated government strategy to shift Tibetan children into state-run institutions. In these government schools, Mandarin Chinese serves as the primary language of instruction, effectively sidelining the native tongue and heritage of the students.
The Targeted Institutions
The report details the closure of three specific schools that provided critical educational and social support to the region's youth:
- Golog Tadrak Orphan School: Located in Tabo Village, Machen County, this school was shut down on September 2, 2026. Established in 2005 through the generosity of the late Dr. Tawu Lobsang Palden and his wife from Germany, the school provided a sanctuary and education for over 300 children who were orphans or from broken homes.
- Ra-Gya Jigme Gyaltsen Grassland Girls’ School: Also known as the Gangjong Tsathang Girls’ School, this institution was closed on August 27. Since 2005, it had offered vocational training and education to girls from nomadic herding communities across Amdo, Kham, and Ü-Tsang. The curriculum was diverse, covering Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan language, science, traditional medicine, astrology, handicrafts, and thangka painting.
- Jasak Village School: This school in Machen County was closed at the end of August. Local authorities reportedly ruled that the school could no longer operate in Tibetan, ordering the use of the "national common language"—Mandarin Chinese written in simplified characters. This school was particularly significant as it was funded and maintained by villagers through crowdfunding to ensure the Tibetan language survived for future generations.
A Pattern of Systematic Closures
The CTA points out that this is a recurring trend in the Golog region. The Ra-Gya community, for instance, had already seen the closure of the Ra-Gya Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling School in 2024. Other previous shutdowns include the Sengdruk Taktse School in July 2021 and seven other private institutions across Chikdril, Gade, Machen, and Darlag counties.
Furthermore, the Hungkar Dorje Vocational High School, which had been a pillar of Tibetan language and cultural education since 2008, was permanently closed on June 24, 2026.
Forced Assimilation and Human Rights Concerns
The transfer of students from these private centers to government-run boarding schools has raised alarms about "forced assimilation." The CTA argues that these actions violate basic linguistic, cultural, and educational rights, severing the bond between Tibetan children and their ancestral traditions.
This situation echoes warnings issued by UN human rights experts in 2023, who estimated that approximately one million Tibetan children were being impacted by a boarding-school system designed for assimilation. The CTA maintains that these closures are in direct conflict with international conventions on minority-language education, as well as China's own Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law and Constitution.
The Challenge of Information
Obtaining real-time, independent data from these Tibetan areas has become increasingly difficult. The CTA noted that intensified surveillance of internet communications and phone calls has created a barrier, making it harder for those inside the region to report these developments to the outside world.