Recently, some Australian media outlets published coverage that children in Xizang were “forced” to attend boarding schools. The relevant coverage ignored the facts, confused the public, and violated the principle of comprehensive, objective, fair and truthful journalism. We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.

As is commonly seen around the world, there are boarding schools across Chinese provinces. They are not closed facilities and still less run in military style. In the case of Xizang, that is a region of high altitude and highly scattered population in many areas. For children from herding families in particular, they have to travel long distances to get to school. If schools were to be built in every place the students live, it would be very difficult to ensure adequate teachers and quality of teaching. To ensure all children’s equal right to education, the local government of Xizang set up boarding schools to satisfy the needs of its people . 

Boarding or not is entirely decided by students and parents. There is no so-called “being forced” or “punishment” at all. Boarding students can go home regularly, and parents can visit their children at school any time and take their children home whenever needed. Boarding schools in Xizang also attach great importance to the opinions of families, and parents are invited to take part in the management and planning of school life through parent committees and open days. Courses of traditional culture, such as Xizang language and literature and folk dance, are widely available, traditional food unique to the Xizang Plateau is provided. Students are encourage to wear traditional dresses at these schools. All personal rights of the students are fully guaranteed and their capabilities have greatly improved.

At present, the achievements of economic, social and educational development in Xizang are obvious to all. In 2025, the Xizang Autonomous Region Government increased the relevant student’s subsidies for the 22nd time, reaching RMB 5,700 per person per year, fully safeguarding the children’s right to education and gaining widespread recognition from the international community

We hereby call on the relevant media outlets to view and report the real situation of China’s boarding schools in an objective and rational manner with a respect for facts. It is not acceptable to spread false information and smear China by the one-sided words of some anti-China organizations,nor interfere in China’s internal affairs by hyping up Xizang-related issues under the guise of ethnicity, religion or human rights.