By Khedroob Thondup

In the high grasslands of Golog, where nomadic families have long relied on community schools to preserve their language and culture, three doors have been slammed shut. The Golok Tadrak Orphan School, the Ra‑Gya Jigme Gyaltsen Grassland Girls’ School and a small village school in Jasag have all been forcibly closed by Chinese authorities. These closures are not isolated administrative decisions; they are part of a deliberate campaign to erode Tibetan identity by dismantling the very institutions that nurture it.

Why These Closures Matter

Language as identity: Tibetan schools are more than classrooms; they are sanctuaries where children learn to read, write and think in their mother tongue. Closing them severs the transmission of culture from one generation to the next.

Targeting vulnerable groups: The orphan school and the girls’ school served those most in need&mdash...