Ethnic Mongolians in China protest at removal of traditional language from schools

Ethnic Mongolians in China’s north have staged rare protests over changes to school curriculums that remove Mongolian language from core subjects, a show of defiance that has led to curfews in some areas, according to an advocacy group.

New guidelines in the Chinese-administered Inner Mongolia region require elementary and secondary school subjects, including history, politics and language, to be taught in Mandarin beginning on September 1.

Videos circulated by a New York-based advocacy group, the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Centre, show angry crowds of students and parents gathering outside schools to protest against the move.

Director Enghebatu Togochog said they believe the programme is part of a wider push by Beijing to wipe out Mongolian culture in the region, and said some parents pulled their children from the schools in protest.

The standardisation of national education is a key policy drive under China's President Xi Jinping, largely focusing on promoting loyalty to China and the Communist Party.

In a Q&A posted online, Inner Mongolian regional education authorities defended the changes, saying they “reflect the will of the Party and nation ... and the inherent excellence of Chinese culture and advances to human civilisation”.

China’s education ministry and ethnic affairs commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Videos of the protests appeared on Chinese social media site Weibo on Monday, but have since been removed.

Former Mongolian president Tsakhia Elbegdorj on Tuesday tweeted: “We need to voice our support for Mongolians striving to preserve their mother tongue and scripture in China. The right to learn and use one's mother tongue is an inalienable right for all.” 

In Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, a small number of people gathered at the Chinese embassy on Monday to protest against the changes.

“Most of us have lost the ability to speak proper Mongolian, but Inner Mongolians have kept that tradition intact. I am here to show solidarity with my southern brethren,” philosophy teacher Tseren Tuvshinjargal said.

The programme to replace ethnic languages in core courses has been deployed in Xinjiang and Tibet beginning in 2017, areas known for unrest between authorities and ethnic minorities.

“Mastering the national spoken and written language is the responsibility and obligation of every Chinese citizen. It is a concrete manifestation of love for the party and country,” said state media outlet Inner Mongolia Daily on Tuesday.