Qinghai, China – The Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling School, a renowned institution dedicated to preserving Tibetan cultural and linguistic heritage, was officially shut down in July, marking a significant blow to Tibetan education and cultural identity. Founded in 1994 in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the school had garnered international recognition for its comprehensive curriculum, which included Tibetan language, medicine, Buddhist philosophy, and modern subjects like engineering and computer science.

Despite its importance, the school was forced to close under orders from the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee, citing failure to meet unspecified "vocational standards." Gen Jigme Gyaltsen, the school's founder, explained that no clear reasons were given for the closure, raising concerns about the transparency of the decision. The abrupt shutdown has drawn criticism from both local and international communities, who see it as part of a broader Chinese strategy to weaken Tibetan culture.

In recent years, the Chinese government has increased its pressure on Tibetan-language schools, replacing Tibetan textbooks with Chinese ones and implementing strict "patriotic education" policies. A 2010 cultural assimilation policy mandates that Chinese be the primary language of instruction in all Tibetan schools, starting from kindergarten. These moves are viewed as an attempt to systematically erase Tibetan language and cultural identity from the region.

Human rights activists and advocates of Tibetan culture have expressed alarm at the closure of Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling, pointing out that private Tibetan schools, in particular, have become targets of Chinese authorities. Many schools face administrative pressure, and eight of the remaining 16 private Tibetan schools have already been shut down, while the others are under scrutiny.

The closure follows years of legal battles and administrative harassment. The school's troubles began in 2018 when authorities accused its student group, the Pure Native Language Association, of using a logo that resembled the banned Tibetan national flag. Though these allegations were dismissed, the government continued its efforts to undermine the school's influence by alleging that the school was hosting underage monks and nuns, which is illegal under Chinese law.

Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling has produced hundreds of graduates who have gone on to become researchers, teachers, and leaders in various fields. Its closure leaves the future of Tibetan education in the region uncertain. Despite a recent court ruling allowing the school to continue operating, the Qinghai provincial government’s decision to close it down has sent shockwaves through the community.

Under international law, China is required to allow minority groups, such as Tibetans, to pursue education in their native language. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which China ratified in 1992, guarantees this right. However, opportunities for Tibetan-language education are dwindling, with fewer options available for young Tibetans from kindergarten through university.

Ironically, while China claims that a lack of educational opportunities in remote regions justifies sending Tibetan children to distant boarding schools, it simultaneously shuts down schools like Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling, which provided education in those same remote areas. This hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed by activists. Lhadon Tethong, founder of the Tibet Action Institute, called the school’s closure “a blatant attempt to suppress Tibetan identity under the guise of vocational standards.”

In response, 100 academics recently petitioned the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging pressure on China to uphold international standards of education for Tibetan children. Advocates stress that the global community must not turn a blind eye to the cultural erasure happening in Tibet. As Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Deputy Director of the Tibet Policy Institute, put it, “The survival of the Tibetan language is at stake, and the world must pay attention.”

The future of Tibetan education in China hangs in the balance, as schools that focus on preserving Tibetan language and culture continue to face closure.