Chinese province defends ban on children taking ‘illegal’ Tibetan language classes
- Qinghai county in December ordered a halt to the informal lessons taught by Buddhist monks over winter school holidays
- Government says monasteries where they were held are ‘safety hazards’ and ‘ill-equipped’ for teaching
Chinese authorities on Monday defended a ban on schoolchildren attending informal Tibetan language classes taught by Buddhist monks in western China, as religious and cultural freedoms in the country come under increasing pressure.
A county in western Qinghai – a province with a large Tibetan population that is mostly Buddhist – in December ordered an immediate halt to informal language classes taught by monks during the winter school holidays.
The lessons taught in monasteries in the province bordering Tibet have gained popularity among parents as a way for their children to learn a language that is being sidelined from the official curriculum.
It follows a similar ban last summer barring Tibetan students from taking part in religious activities during their holidays.
The provincial government on Monday said the lessons were “illegal” and the monasteries were “safety hazards” as well as being “ill-equipped” to teach students.
“According to Chinese law … education is conducted by the government. No organisation or person can use religion as a means of obstructing the state education system,” it said in a statement.
It added that the classes posed a financial burden to students and their families, and contravened regulations to reduce the workload of students.
Monasteries and monks who do not follow the new rules will be “dealt with in accordance with the law”, the statement said.