Assimilation through education: Tibetan boarding schools in China

Nearly 80% of Tibetan children attend state-run boarding schools where Mandarin Chinese is the main language of instruction. The Chinese government says this makes education more accessible for the children of farmers and herders who live far from schools. David Rennie, The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief, travels to a Tibetan area of Qinghai province to try to find out if this is the whole story. He and James Miles, our China writer-at-large, speak to two activists from the Tibet Action Institute, and ask why are so many Tibetan children in boarding schools, and what’s the impact on their home life and culture? Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.