Education ministry may drop requirement pupils love the Communist Party
Education authorities may drop the requirement that pupils love the Communist Party. The suggestion is contained in reforms the Ministry of Education proposed to national guidelines for pupils, which were introduced in 2004.
Education authorities may drop the requirement that pupils love the Communist Party.
The suggestion is contained in reforms the Ministry of Education proposed to national guidelines for pupils, which were introduced in 2004.
The requirement asking pupils "to love the people and Chinese Communist Party" has been removed. They would instead be urged to "love our country, respect the national flag and national emblem, remain solemn while singing the national song and during flag-rising ceremonies". They should also "understand the history and facts of our country".
The amended guideline has been put to public consultation until August 20.
The new rules are shorter, and address changes to pupils lifestyles. They call for active participation in volunteer work, less time spent surfing the internet and adopting a low-carbon lifestyle by sorting rubbish.
They were also urged to stay away from drugs.
Professor Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences, said loving the party was a specific concept and difficult for students to easily engage.
"This guide is a basic requirement applying to every pupil. Loving the party is not something that can be enforced on everyone across the board, even adults, as it is a political stance," Chu said.
