Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 14: The suspension of U.S. aid could significantly impact Tibetan education programs, but the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is actively working to ensure continued funding, said President Penpa Tsering of the CTA during the opening ceremony of the 12th Education Council and Advisory Committee Joint Meeting on Thursday.
The meeting, held at the Kashag Conference Hall in Gangchen Kyishong, addressed the consequences of the recent decision by the new U.S. administration to cut USAID funding to Tibetan refugees and the Central Tibetan Administration. President Penpa Tsering noted that the termination of the aid could affect Tibetan schools in exile, impacting student scholarships, workshops, conferences, human resource development programs, and other initiatives. However, he assured that the CTA remains committed to finding alternative funding solutions to mitigate these challenges.
While all the aid from USAID has been suspended, the U.S. State Department has maintained a $2 million allocation for population, refugee, and migration-related programs (PRM). The new U.S. administration has emphasised that its foreign aid policies must align with U.S. interests. Addressing this, President Penpa Tsering highlighted that US government support for Tibet is indeed related to US interests, and during a recent Tibetan New Year celebration at the US State Department, a State Department representative acknowledged in a speech that supporting the Tibet issue is connected to US interests.
President Tsering revealed ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the situation, including a letter sent to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Acting Director of USAID Peter Marocco on February 27. Senator Rubio responded on March 10, reassuring that there are “no changes in the U.S. government’s stance on Tibet” and reaffirming “continued support for the Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom and justice.” However, President Tsering acknowledged that the aid situation remains under review.
Beyond the funding concerns, Sikyong emphasised the importance of nurturing children’s talents beyond academic studies. He advocated for adopting models similar to those in Switzerland to support children with exceptional extracurricular abilities, such as handicrafts, in addition to traditional education.
The two-day joint meeting of the Tibetan Education Council and Education Advisory Committee will deliberate on nine agendas. Key discussions include countering policies implemented by the People’s Republic of China that threaten Tibetan religion, culture, and language; promoting effective programs to preserve Tibetan heritage in exile; fostering Tibetan language proficiency within Tibetan communities; and enhancing Tibetan children’s engagement with their language and culture, particularly for those living abroad. The integration of Tibetan folk arts and crafts into the education sector is also under review.
