In Tibet, students applying to join colleges and universities are now required to meet extra conditions unrelated to their educational qualifications as stipulated by the Tibet Autonomous Region’s 2022 Regular College Admissions Regulations published last month.
Among the standard set of rules listed, Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights, has reported that in Section 12 of the regulations under the title Ideological and Political Morality Assessment, “it is explained that being an outstanding student is not enough to be admitted to a university in Tibet. Actually, ‘ideological and political morality’ is the ‘main’ standard for admission”. The report continues, saying that the academic authorities “shall make a comprehensive appraisal of the examinee’s political attitude and ideological morality, and be responsible for its authenticity”.
Bitter Winter’ report explains that universities are required to make sure that candidates have never supported “in words or in deeds” movements or activities that “endangers the unity of the motherland or national unity.” The report further added that “Tibetans understand that these activities and movements are all forms of support for the Dalai Lama” which the Chines Communist Party refers to as “the separatist Dalai clique.” The Regulations also state that the candidate should not be involved in “xie jiao” ( “illegal” religious movements). “But if the candidates are proficient in ‘Marxist theory,’ they are eligible for a preferential lane for admission” said the report.
In a separate news report by Voice of America Tibetan service published on May 16 following the news of the self-immolation protest by the popular Tibetan singer, Tsewang Norbu, students at the Tibet University in Lhasa were made to sign a “No Suicide Commitment”; the Chinese authorities regard self-immolation protests as suicide and the commitment form advises students to contact teachers or family when such thoughts occur.
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