Estonian Parliament calls for the immediate abolition of the boarding school system in Tibet
Statement of the Parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu)
February 11, 2026
On the protection of Tibetan children
The official policy of the People’s Republic of China emphasizes equality and autonomy for ethnic minorities living in the country, while at the same time focusing on social control and assimilation of these nationalities.
The Chinese authorities have established a large-scale system of de facto compulsory and politicized boarding schools for children aged 4 to 18, requiring them to receive a compulsory education in Mandarin without the opportunity to learn and use the Tibetan language in depth and to learn Tibetan culture and history.
In a report published in February 2023, the Special Rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council drew attention to the policy of the Government of the People’s Republic of China aimed at the cultural, religious and linguistic assimilation of the Tibetan people through the boarding school system.
On 14 December 2023, the European Parliament, based on a report by UN experts, adopted a resolution on the abduction and forced assimilation of Tibetan children in Chinese boarding schools in Tibet and strongly condemned the repressive assimilation policy throughout China.
In view of the above, the Riigikogu:
- condemns China’s assimilation policy and the Tibetan boarding school system, which aims to eliminate the distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traditions of Tibetans and other minorities, such as the Uyghurs;
- calls for the immediate abolition of the boarding school system and the practice of family separation for children in Tibet, and calls on the authorities of the People’s Republic of China to allow the establishment of private Tibetan schools;
- calls on countries and the European Commission to demand that the Government of the People’s Republic of China issue visas to European diplomats to visit boarding schools throughout Tibet and allow independent journalists and international observers to enter the region;
- calls on other national parliaments to adopt statements in defence of Tibetan children and to forward them to the institutions of the European Union, the United Nations and the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China.
Lauri Hussar
Speaker of the Riigikogu
Tallinn, 2026
Presented by the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9.02.2026.
(digitally signed)
Marko Mihkelson
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Hääletustulemused / kohalolekukontroll – Riigikogu