Thousands of years of Tibetan heritage and culture are under threat from the Chinese Government.
In a widespread programme of imprisonment, torture and executions, more than 1.2 million Tibetans have died and 120,000 Tibetans have fled the country for uncertain lives as refugees.
As part of its effort to assert control and reshape perceptions of the region, China is increasingly replacing the globally recognised name of Tibet with ‘Xizang’, particularly in official contexts, thus erasing the country’s historical and geographical autonomy.
After Tibetan classes were closed in his local area, activist Tashi Wangchuk began an education campaign highlighting his fears for the survival of the Tibetan language.
He was imprisoned for five years in 2018 for asking the Chinese Government to observe its own constitution and allow Tibetan children to access education in the Tibetan language.
Tashi was again imprisoned for 15 days in October 2024 for social media posts challenging some of the punitive policies of the Chinese.
The Chinese Government has systematically bullied Tibetan parents into sending their children away from home to receive a Chinese education and prevented Tibetan children from learning their first language.
Since its 1950 invasion of Tibet, China has engaged in a widespread programme of cultural assimilation and are now formalising their plan to destroy Tibetan culture and replace Tibetan language schooling with Chinese.
History shows that the destruction of a people’s identity and culture begins with depriving them of the right and ability to learn, use and promote their language.
The situation is further exacerbated by requiring qualified teachers to be accredited in Mandarin as their first language, meaning that Tibetans cannot achieve formal Chinese accreditation.
As part of NASUWT’s international work, NASUWT supports and advocates for teachers and trade unionists abroad.
Please visit the Free Tibet website to take part in the Free Tibet campaign to bring the plight of the Tibetan people to the wider world and support Tibet’s peaceful struggle for freedom.
