In China, hundreds of students in the town of Tongren in the multi-ethnic Qinghai province took to the streets last week. They were peacefully protesting against a plan to impose Mandarin as the primary language of instruction.<br /><br />On Monday, security around the town’s bi-lingual schools was tight. Journalists were turned away by armed security forces and were not permitted to interview students or teachers.<br /><br />According to the Associated Press, Tibetan teachers who were contacted outside of school, were nervous and unwilling to discuss the recent protests or the language policy, possibly fearing retaliation.<br /><br />A draft of a Chinese Communist Party ten-year education plan for Qinghai province states that Mandarin must become the only language of instruction in schools.<br /><br />Tibetans and Mongolians in the province cling to their language as a way of preserving their endangered culture.
