Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 24: More than 10,000 Tibetan students were enrolled in so-called “Tibet Classes” across major Chinese cities in 2025, marking the highest annual intake since the programme’s inception, according to Chinese government data published in a report by Education Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
A report stated that a total of 10,500 students from Tibetan regions were enrolled in Tibet Classes set up in schools across various provinces and provincial-level cities in China in 2025. The enrollment figure was described by Chinese authorities as a historic high.
The data further revealed a significant expansion in the number of specialised classes and institutions established under the programme. In 2025 alone, five new schools dedicated specifically to Tibet Classes were set up in major Chinese cities. Additionally, 150 new junior middle school classes were established, enrolling 2,000 students; 205 new senior middle school classes enrolled 4,500 students; and 223 new middle-level vocational education classes enrolled 4,000 students.
Of the students enrolled in vocational education programmes, 3,215 were reported to be from the TAR, while the remaining 785 were from Tsongon (Qinghai) Province, which comprises a large part of the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo. Chinese authorities noted that approximately 70% of the students admitted into these programmes come from farming, nomadic, and border communities in remote and high-altitude areas.
According to the official report, the expansion of Tibet Classes, also referred to as Tibet Middle Schools, has accelerated since 2023, with student enrolment increasing at an average annual rate of 9.9 percent over the past three years. The programme’s rapid growth is guided by what Chinese authorities term the policy framework of “three increments, three coverages, and one standardisation.”
The “three increments” refer to increases in boarding school enrolment, annual student intake, and the overall number of schools. The “three coverages” indicate full implementation across all ethnic groups in Tibetan regions, every remote county, and border-area towns. The “one standardisation” focuses on integrating vocational education with employment placement within middle-level vocational schools. Chinese officials claim that these policy goals are being successfully implemented on a yearly basis.
The Tibet Class system was first introduced in 1984, with Beijing citing educational underdevelopment and a shortage of skilled personnel in Tibetan regions as justification. However, Tibetan groups and rights advocates have long criticised the programme as a tool for political indoctrination and cultural assimilation.
As of 2025, official figures claim that 129 Tibet Class schools operate across 23 provinces and 60 provincial-level cities in China, enrolling a total of 25,000 Tibetan students. Chinese authorities further assert that approximately 180,000 Tibetan students have graduated from these schools over the years and are now employed in various sectors, contributing to economic development in Tibetan areas.
In 1996, China’s State Council issued a policy document titled “Regarding the Expansion of the Scale of Inland Tibet Classes,” which framed the programme not merely as an educational initiative but as a “political responsibility.” The document called for strict supervision, coordinated efforts, and strong institutional support from local governments to ensure its implementation. It outlined the establishment of Tibet Classes across at least 16 provinces and major municipalities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong, Sichuan, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong.
