By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, June 30: The persecution of the Tibetan language by China inside Tibet may yet be one of the single most disparaging assaults on the Tibetan identity collectively. Measures targeting the growing Tibetan populace overseas are being taken to address the issue here in the exile Tibetan polity’s seat in Dharamshala.
The Department of Education under the Central Tibetan Administration today released the first three elementary Tibetan language textbooks as part of a project to publish Tibetan language textbooks till the 8th standard for Tibetan children in the North American countries such as the United States and Canada where the curriculum will be taught through weekend classes.
The Tibetan Prime Minister who also holds the Education portfolio, Lobsang Sangay, lauded the initiative likening it to a counter step against China’s relentless efforts to eradicate the Tibetan language inside Tibet. “In the 60 years of illegal occupation of Tibet, China has deviously sought to various methods and policies to completely destroy Tibetan culture, religion, language and Tibetan way of life. For any country, its language, culture and religion are its national identity and pride. Therefore, Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile have been determinedly taking actions to preserve and promote Tibetan language among the younger generation,” Dr. Sangay said.
The Harvard educated head of the Tibetan government in exile (known officially as Central Tibetan Administration) expressed hope that the children in the west who are impeded by many factors unlike in the Indian Subcontinent Tibetans to learn Tibetan will benefit from the program.
The Director of Education council, Tsering Samdup, who was part of the project said, “The content of the textbooks have been developed by Tibetan teachers and educationists in the US after which the DoE have edited and made minor changes to the curriculum. We hope that the project will inculcate in the children a key trait of learning Tibetan, which is reading. An able reader can then move on to bigger things.”
The Director announced that the remaining series of the text books will be released by September this year and that additional resources for learning and teaching Tibetan language are available on the www.bodyiglobjong.com website.
The project came to being after multiple meetings by members of Tibetan community in North America and through support and facilitation by representatives of the Office of Tibet, Washington DC and the Department of Education, CTA.
Education Secretary Dr Ngawang Rabgyal, Director of Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society Karma Chungdak and Principals of various Tibetan schools also attended the release of the textbooks.
