China shows off Tibetan boarding school that's part of system some see as forced assimilation

(27 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shangri-La, China - 5 September 2023
1. Close of Tibetan handwriting on a notebook
2. Wide of classroom
3. Close of Tibetan handwriting on blackboard
4. Close of instructor
5. Various of classroom
6. Wide of journalists and school principal
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Kang Zhaxi, principal of a Shangri-La boarding school:
“In ethnic areas, the population is scattered, and the government has put in a lot of effort to build a good environment and good schools, provide an excellent teaching and learning environment for students, and then consolidate educational resources.”
8. Various of students lining up to enter school cafeteria
9. Students lining up for meals
10. Close of rice served on plate
11. Wide of cafeteria menu
12. Various of students eating
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston, US - 11 September 2023
++VIDEO CALL QUALITY++
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Lhadon Tethong, Director of Tibet Action Institute:
"The biggest question, of course is, why are so many Tibetan children living in boarding school and from such young ages? Regardless of arguments about the rural, sparsely populated nature of Tibet, you just do not in good conscience take young children away, especially young children, away from their parents and families and communities and put them in boarding school at the rate that they are in Tibet."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taipei, Taiwan - 18 October 2023
14. Wide of Chemi Lhamo, Tibetan activist, representative for the International Tibet Network, giving a presentation
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Chemi Lhamo, Tibetan activist, representative for the International Tibet Network:
"Any sort of government support that they receive, usually, they will not be able to receive it if their children don't go to the school. And even if they don't send their children to the school, then they have to pay the price of not having children who are educated."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shangri-La, China - 5 September 2023
16. Various of a music class
17. Various of a basketball class
18. Various of a dance class
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing, China - 23 August 2023
19. Wide of news conference
20. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“Courses of traditional culture, such as Tibetan language and literature and folk dance, are widely available. Traditional food unique to the Tibetan Plateau is provided and students are free to wear traditional dresses. The boarding schools are examples of ways to protect human rights and cultural heritage. The so-called 'forced assimilation' is pure fabrication.”
21. Wide of news conference
22. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“Tibet-related affairs are purely China's internal affairs and allow no foreign interference. The U.S. needs to respect facts, fulfill its commitment on Tibet, stop using Tibet-related issues to meddle in China's affairs and undermine China's interests, and immediately repeal its one decision. Otherwise, it will be met with China's resolute and strong response.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shangri-La, China - 5 September, 2023
23. Various of students in classroom
STORYLINE:
First-grade students, hands folded on their desks, watch a teacher write a brush-like stroke on a blackboard in their Tibetan alphabet.
Outside, craggy mountains climb toward the brightest of blue skies.
The air is clean and crisp at 2,800 meters (9,100 feet), if a bit thin.
The Shangri-La Key Boarding School is an example of bilingual education, Chinese-style.
Many students come from remote farming villages and live at the schools.
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[@user-en4bq6zt6b]

Much better than the schools in my hometown