Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the incorporation of ideological-political courses into school curricula to enhance their relevance and appeal, as reported by Hong Kong-based publication The Standard. He stressed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) commitment to strengthening ideological education in schools, underscoring the party’s leadership in this domain.
Xi emphasized the promotion of virtue as a central objective and called for ideological-political courses to align with the ‘Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Age.’ He advocated for political education at all levels of education, from elementary schools to universities, emphasizing adherence to CCP ideology.
The influence of the CCP on China’s education sector has been substantial, with a focus on indoctrinating teachers and discouraging critical thinking and political dissent.
At a conference in Beijing focused on the development of ideological-political courses, Xi’s guidance was highlighted, with Ding Xuexiang, a member of the CPC Central Committee’s Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, also emphasizing the importance of implementing Xi’s directives.
Efforts to innovate and reform ideological-political courses were encouraged by Vice Premier Ding, in line with Xi’s directives.
However, Xi’s call for educational reform coincides with existing criticism of China’s education system, particularly regarding ethics and accountability. Critics argue that the emphasis on conformity to CCP ideology undermines independent thought and detracts from the fundamental purpose of education.
The Chinese education system has been faulted for prioritizing exams and instilling unwavering loyalty to the CCP among students, potentially compromising their ability to think critically. Propaganda is prevalent in textbooks, reinforcing devotion to the party.
Concerns about the erosion of moral and universal values in the education system have been raised, with some attributing scandals to a lack of ethical grounding fostered by party-led education. Teachers have also reported shortcomings in classroom teaching, often necessitating additional paid tutoring sessions.
