Xi's new era thought set for schools

Incorporation into textbooks will help students in learning from guidance

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era will be incorporated into the nation's textbooks for students at all levels, a new guideline said on Tuesday.

The guideline, issued by the National Textbook Committee, said textbooks reflect the will of the Communist Party of China and the nation and directly impact the direction and quality of talent cultivation.

In order to push the reform of the country's education and cultivate talent for national rejuvenation, new era thought should be used as guidance and be included in all levels of education and teaching, the guideline said.

The CPC's 19th National Congress in October 2017 enshrined the Thought into the Party's Constitution and the Thought was enshrined into the country's Constitution during the top legislature's session in March 2018.

The inclusion of new era thought into textbooks is of great significance in guiding students' understanding of Marxism, having confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, listening to the Party's call and following its lead and developing correct views of life, values and the world, it said.

The Thought should be included in basic education, vocational education and higher education; national, local and school textbooks; philosophic, social science and natural science subjects; as well as moral education, academic education and social practice education, the guideline said.

The content of the textbooks should be tailored to students' level of education and combine concepts with storytelling and vivid examples to make sure the Thought can be understood by students, it said.

The guideline also detailed specific requirements for the learning of the Thought in different levels of education.

Primary schools should foster love and right understanding for the Party, country and socialism in students. Through story-telling and descriptive language, students should know that the CPC is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, it said.

Middle schools should help students develop basic political judgment and views, undergraduate students should form theoretical thinking and develop conviction in and commitment to the socialist cause and postgraduate students should focus on deep exploration of the Thought and develop the abilities to promote, explain and conduct research on the Thought, the guideline added.

The Ministry of Education has compiled guidelines to include traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary culture in textbooks for primary and secondary school students. Guidelines for labor education and national security education for primary, secondary school and university students have also been issued by the ministry, it said.

The ministry will issue guidelines to include the Party's leadership and national defense in textbooks, it added.