China Drops Tibetan from Core College Entrance Exam

Tibet’s top official, Gama Cedain, told reporters in Beijing that Tibetan will no longer be a core subject in the national college entrance exam for most students in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Financial Times reported on Aug. 7. The change, part of reforms begun in 2024, is expected to take effect in 2026. Officials claim it will improve career prospects, but according to Tibetan Review, exile Tibetans say it seeks to erode language and culture. Only students in fields like Tibetan literature will take the test. Critics say it reflects Xi Jinping’s broader Sinicization drive.