The demonstrations are a protest against new measures that will increase Chinese-language medium teaching and undermine Tibetan language study in schools and colleges in Tibet. In the article, Andrew Fischer point out that the linguistic and cultural disadvantages faced by Tibetans in urban employment need to be lessened, albeit in ways that do not undermine Tibetan language and culture

Protests by students against downgrading of Tibetal language spread to Beijing.

Andrew Fischer is senior lecturer in Population and Social Policy at ISS.