China steps up indoctrination of Xi Jinping’s ideology at tertiary institutions
蘋果日報 2020/06/14 12:50
China's Ministry of Education has recently instructed the country's tertiary institutions to ramp up their ideological education to hammer loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping Thought into all students.
A renowned China-watcher said this latest effort to brainwash students with Xi Jinping Thought is likely to backfire, as with all of Beijing's previous attempts to inculcate the Chinese people with patriotic platitudes.
In a guideline issued to the country's higher education institutes last week, the government specifies that the element of ideological education is to be integrated into the curriculum of all subjects and all learning activities be it lectures, tutorials, practical training or academic paper writing.
The purpose of ideological education, according to this guideline, is to instill into students the love for the Chinese Communist Party, the country, socialism, the people and the collective spirit. The guideline also emphasizes that the Xi Jinping Thought has to be included in all teaching materials and be taught in every classroom so that it leaves its mark on everyone.
The Chinese government has apparently attached great importance to this new edict. The guideline describes political indoctrination as "a strategic move that may decide the outcome of succession to the Chinese leadership and has implications on China's long-term stability as well as the country's rejuvenation and rise to prominence."
A renowned China-watcher said this latest effort to brainwash students with Xi Jinping Thought is likely to backfire, as with all of Beijing's previous attempts to inculcate the Chinese people with patriotic platitudes.
In a guideline issued to the country's higher education institutes last week, the government specifies that the element of ideological education is to be integrated into the curriculum of all subjects and all learning activities be it lectures, tutorials, practical training or academic paper writing.
The purpose of ideological education, according to this guideline, is to instill into students the love for the Chinese Communist Party, the country, socialism, the people and the collective spirit. The guideline also emphasizes that the Xi Jinping Thought has to be included in all teaching materials and be taught in every classroom so that it leaves its mark on everyone.
The Chinese government has apparently attached great importance to this new edict. The guideline describes political indoctrination as "a strategic move that may decide the outcome of succession to the Chinese leadership and has implications on China's long-term stability as well as the country's rejuvenation and rise to prominence."
Officially called the “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, the doctrine was introduced in 2017. It maps out a set of national goals to make China a “great, modern socialist country”.
All teaching materials in China have been revised since September to tilt towards glorifying past leaders and national heroes, including the addition of five essays by Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China whom Xi was said to revere.
Johnny Lau, an independent political commentator specializing on China, said ideological education was doomed to fail given how China had backtracked on political reform and the ever-increasing state control on virtually all aspects of life from the economy to civil liberties.
Most Chinese youth study the party ideology just to get good grades and secure a better career prospect, Lau said.
"Once they graduate and face the real world, they would realize all they had learned about the official ideology does not apply to reality."
All teaching materials in China have been revised since September to tilt towards glorifying past leaders and national heroes, including the addition of five essays by Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China whom Xi was said to revere.
Johnny Lau, an independent political commentator specializing on China, said ideological education was doomed to fail given how China had backtracked on political reform and the ever-increasing state control on virtually all aspects of life from the economy to civil liberties.
Most Chinese youth study the party ideology just to get good grades and secure a better career prospect, Lau said.
"Once they graduate and face the real world, they would realize all they had learned about the official ideology does not apply to reality."
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