China's 'Harmonization Plan' Restricts Tibetan Language in Schools
A 2021 education directive mandates Mandarin-only instruction in preschools across ethnic minority regions, limiting early childhood exposure to Tibetan.
China is enforcing Mandarin-only instruction in preschools across ethnic minority areas through a 2021 education policy, according to Human Rights Watch. The Children's Speech Harmonization plan removes legal authority for kindergartens to offer instruction in minority languages, despite theoretical allowance for supplementary sessions. By restricting Tibetan-language learning during a critical developmental period, the policy accelerates cultural assimilation while imposing ideological training on young children. Rights advocates warn the restrictions undermine Tibetan identity formation and language preservation across generations.