China has permanently closed the Hungkar Dorje Vocational High School, a prominent Tibetan educational institution in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, according to the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT). The school, also known as the Snowland Ancient and Modern Education Centre, was founded in 2008 by the late Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje and focused on preserving Tibetan language, culture, and traditional knowledge.
School's Mission and Closure
The school used Tibetan as the primary medium of instruction, which conflicted with Beijing's education policy mandating Mandarin as the principal language in Tibetan regions. ICT reported that authorities ordered the permanent closure, ending nearly two decades of educational work. More than 1,000 students had studied there over the years, with enrollment once ranging between 800 and 1,000, including monks, nuns, and laypeople.
Pressure on Founder
The school's founder, Tulku Hungkar Dorje, who also headed Lungngon Monastery, faced sustained official pressure before his death in March 2025 under suspicious circumstances while in Chinese custody in Vietnam, according to ICT. He had drawn Chinese authorities' displeasure after refusing to organize a grand reception for the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu during his visit to Golog.
Curriculum and Impact
The institution offered courses in Tibetan, Chinese, and English, alongside vocational training in traditional weaving, tailoring, Tibetan medicine, Thangka art, and information technology. Despite receiving approval from local education authorities before opening in July 2008, the school has now ceased all operations. Officials had initially barred new admissions in 2024, but Tulku Hungkar Dorje successfully appealed to allow existing students to complete their education. Following the latest shutdown, online tributes and photographs shared by Tibetans have reportedly been removed through censorship, as reported by ICT.
