Dharamshala: - On April 2, the Chinese authorities shut down a Tibetan school in Karze County, eastern Tibet (Sichuan Province). Two teachers from the school have been arrested, according to information from a source in Tibet.
Dharamshala: - On April 2, the Chinese authorities shut down a Tibetan school in Karze County, eastern Tibet (Sichuan Province). Two teachers from the school have been arrested, according to information from a source in Tibet.
The Compassion School (Tibetan: Rongpatsa khadrok Jamtse Rokten Lhodra) in Rongpatsa Khadrok was closed following an accusation that Tibetan language and cultural history were being taught there. The teachers - Nyindrak, 51, and Yama Tsering, 36 - were detained by Chinese police for "suspected involvement in political activities".
Yama Tsering previously studied Buddhist philosophy for five years at the Seraje Monastery in South India. He also studied English at Suja Tibetan Children's Village school near Dharamshala, northern India. Tsering returned to Tibet in 2005 and has since taught a number of English-language courses. He has also won sponsorship to fund the Compassion School.
The school was founded at the request of the people in the township in 1989 to teach young children Tibetan language and cultural history, as well as Chinese and English language. It began with a single classroom and very few students but expanded in 2005. Nyindrak served as a public school teacher for 20 years, especially afforded by teaching the Tibetan children the language, history, religion, and culture.
The family members were also questioned several times, parents asked to send their children aged over seven years old to the government school in the township, sources said. Chinese authorities told their family members they did crimes, involving political activities, without further explanation. The authorities also have ignored the urgent appeals made over recent days. Tsering and Nyindrak's location is currently unknown.
In 2010, two schools in Machu County, eastern Tibet, were shut down for planning to hold an education seminar.
