Commissars to ‘educate’ kids on Xi’s philosophy
Chinese schools have been ordered to appoint political commissars to ensure that all children receive instruction on President Xi Jinping’s ideology and definition of the ‘‘rule of law’’.
A mandate from the education ministry says all middle and secondary schools – covering 200 million children – must accept up to five ‘‘assistant principals’’ chosen from the Chinese Communist Party-run local judiciary, who will from May ‘‘push for the study and propaganda of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on rule of law’’.
Nursery schools are also being encouraged to set up similar positions, although they are not mandatory.
The move cements Xi’s stated aim of increasing the indoctrination of Chinese children, and passing ‘‘red genes’’ through the generations.
Last year the president’s collection of ‘‘new-era thoughts’’ was turned into textbooks for pupils as young as 6, to sow the ‘‘seeds to love the party, to love the nation and to love socialism’’.
Critics say Xi’s definition of ‘‘rule of law’’ has little to do with the philosophy that all people are held to the same standards, and is more geared towards protecting the country’s communist leadership.
Xi has stated that the continued rule of his party is the ‘‘fundamental guarantee’’ to stability in China. ‘‘The party
leadership is the soul of our country’s socialist rule of law, and the socialist rule of law must adhere to the party leadership,’’ said the People’s Daily, the party’s flagship mouthpiece newspaper.
The education ministry’s order states that each ‘‘assistant principal of rule of law’’ shall be recommended or appointed by the local judiciary, which includes the courts, the prosecuting office, the public security bureau, and
the administrative office of legal affairs.
Each school must have at least one such assistant principal but as many as five, the ministry says. Kindergartens can choose to set up similar positions.
The commissars will be hired by either the local education bureau or the school on a three-year renewable contract. They must carry out four hours worth of classes each school year.