Some improvements have been made, at least in the number of students in Tibet who today receive some education. Nonetheless, China's international obligations regarding the rights of children to receive an adequate education still fail to be met. The following actions are therefore recommended:

Build new schools

To ensure that education is available to children in remote areas of Tibet.

Abolish school fees for primary schools

Not only does the levy of school fees violate article 28 (1)(a) of the CRC, it also discriminates against Tibetans as they are far more likely than the Chinese settlers to come from economically disadvantaged households.

Ensure equitable distribution of educational resources amongst students

At present Tibetan students pay more and receive less than their Chinese peers. Any charges for schooling should not only be reasonable but equitable, and the distribution of books, stationery, tables and chairs must also be free from discrimination.

Ensure fair entrance requirements for middle schools

Entrance to secondary school should be based on equal opportunity and thereby depend on academic merit and not the amount of bribe able to be paid.

Ensure non-discriminatory entry examinations to middle school

Tibetans should be entitled to sit entry examinations in their mother tongue. By not allowing the use of Tibetan language, Chinese authorities discriminate against Tibetan students because their command of the Chinese language is clearly inferior to that of the Chinese students.

Allow for education in Tibetan language

Tibetan children will only have the chance to receive a proper education and to compete with their Chinese peers if they are taught in their native Tibetan language.

Teach Chinese to Tibetan students as a foreign language

Chinese is a foreign language to Tibetans. If they are not properly introduced to this language they will never have a chance to reach a sufficient level of Chinese.

Establish more secondary schools which use Tibetan as their main teaching language

Tibetan students must compete at middle school with native Chinese speakers and are therefore constantly disadvantaged. By introducing middle schools which use Tibetan as their main teaching language, Tibetan children receive a fair chance of completing their middle school education.

Finance more mangtsug schools

These locally sponsored schools tend to give greater attention to the cultural rights of Tibetan children than the government sponsored zhungtsug schools and often also use Tibetan as the main teaching language.

Employ more Tibetan teachers

Tibetan teachers are likely to have a better understanding of the Tibetan children's cultural background and are able to teach the Tibetan children in their mother tongue. It appears they are also more likely than the Chinese teachers to attend their classes regularly.

Incorporate Tibet-related subjects into the curriculum

By teaching Tibetan children only about Chinese matters they lack knowledge of their Tibetan history and culture. In particular, books in Tibetan should not simply be translations of Chinese books but should teach the Tibetan children about their own literary traditions.

Not use indoctrination as a substitute for education

Education of children should be directed at developing his or her personal capacities and not to fuel support for a particular ideology or political agenda. The education





Tibetan children should not be used to forcibly propagate Chinese communist thought.

Allow freedom of expression

In accordance with article 13 (1) of the CRC, Tibetan children should be free to express opinions which differ from that of State authorities or their teachers.

Allow freedom of religion

Tibetan daily life is interwoven with Buddhist spiritual practice. Denying Tibetans their religious freedom is equivalent to denying them their cultural identity. Every Tibetan child should be entitled to observe his or her religious practice, to consider the Dalai Lama as his or her spiritual leader and to carry his picture.

Respect Tibetan children's minority rights

Allow Tibetan children to speak their language, eat their food, dress in their clothes and celebrate their national and religious holidays.

Stop sending children to China for secondary education

Tibetan children who are sent to China for secondary education are in danger of losing their cultural identity and background.

Redirect education budget spending

A significant proportion of Tibet's educational funding has been spent for Tibetan students sent to study in central China. Much of the money could be used to train teachers or improve the already existing facilities of Tibetan schools in Tibet.

Stop the discrimination of Tibetan school children

There should be no differentiation between Tibetan and Chinese school children with regard to teaching attention, academic grading, non-educational activities or disciplinary measures.

Stop punishing children in brutal and degrading ways

Children are small humans and should be treated with the same dignity to which every human is entitled. School punishment should not amount to torture, cruel or degrading treatment or affect the physical or mental well-being of the child.

Adequate supervision of teachers

There is an onus on Chinese authorities to ensure that schools and teachers are fulfilling their educational obligations. Teachers should be required to attend their classes and to refrain from demanding bribes and using cruel punishment techniques.

Refrain from using students as spies against their parents

This practice intrudes on the private life of Tibetan children and their family and threatens to disturb their family structure.

Protect children from unlawful non-educational activities

Tibetan children should not be subjected to economic exploitation or to activities which threaten their physical or mental well-being.

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This site is maintained and updated by The Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London. This Web page may be linked to any other Web sites. Contents may not be altered.
Last updated: 29-Sept-97