Lhasa: China has made the Mandarin language compulsory for the Tibetan students who took China's annual college entrance exam over the weekend, Radio Free Asia reported citing residents.
Radio Free Asia is a United States government-funded private non-profit news service that broadcasts radio programs and publishes online news, information, and commentary for its audiences in Asia.
In previous years, ethnic minorities, including Tibetans were allowed to take the test in their native language but this year China made a big change. Chinese authorities asked Tibetans to give the test only in Mandarin. Also, ethnic minorities no longer get five extra minutes to complete the test as they had in the past, according to Radio Free Asia.
The Mandarin-only policy for the test is concurrent with other controversial education policies meant to establish Mandarin as the medium of instruction within Tibetan schools-which Tibetan activists say is part of Beijing's plan to eliminate Tibetan culture and Sinicize the region.
"Now beginning this year, the Chinese government has imposed Mandarin as the medium for college entrance exams."
Opponents of the Model 2 Education system argue that the policy will destroy the Tibetan language and culture, and it has no basis in law, reported Radio Free Asia. (with ANI inputs)
