Something is quietly happening inside the kindergarten classrooms of Tibet, and the world is starting to pay attention. A recent report has sparked international debate over China’s education policies in the region, specifically around preschools, which critics say are being used to phase out the Tibetan language in favour of Mandarin Chinese. The Chinese government calls it progress. Many others call it erasure, and the fact that it is happening to children as young as three makes it all the more urgent.
In July 2021, China rolled out what it called the “Children’s Speech Harmonization Plan.” The policy is straightforward in its requirement: all preschools across the country, including those in ethnic minority regions like Tibet, must use Mandarin as the sole language of instruction. Not just for lessons, but for play, conversation, and everyday communication.
