CHINA-LEADERSHIP: QIU SHI REPRINTS CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING'S SPEECH STRESSING IMPORTANCE OF IDEOLOGY

Qiushi (17/2020 dated August 31) reprinted a speech Chinese President Xi Jinping gave on March 18, 2019, at a symposium for teachers of ideological and political theory classes in schools. Stressing that ideology and political theory courses are irreplaceable ... , Chinese President Xi Jinping explained that "as China increasingly opens up and moves closer to the centre of the world stage, influences from other countries have deepened, and the struggles facing the ideological field have become more complex. In order to build socialist builders and successors, one must establish a correct view of the world, life, morals, and realize that the individual morals and the destiny of the nation and Party are closely connected. Schools are therefore at the forefront (前沿阵地) of ideological work, and can’t be thought of as ivory towers or 'peach blossom gardens'". Chinese President Xi Jinping said some schools still do not fully understand the importance of ideological and political courses, there are still shortcomings in the selection and training of teachers, and the construction of ideological and political courses in private schools and in Sino-foreign cooperative courses remains weak.
 
He listed the "attributes necessary for teachers of ideology and political theory courses: their politics must be strong, their feelings must be deep, their thinking must be “new” (concepts taught should be applicable to contemporary China), they must have a broad vision (knowledge beyond Marxist theory), they must have strict self-discipline, and they must have positive personalities. He proposed eight “unifications” that must be achieved in order to promote the reform of ideology and political theory courses: 
i) Unification of politics and academic rationality:  While political guidance is the purpose of these courses, they should not come across as political propaganda. They must “guide students with the power of the truth” and “stand up to students’ questions of ‘why?’
ii) Unification of values and knowledge: The courses cannot simply preach values without the support of “scientific knowledge.”
iii) Unification of “constructiveness” and “criticalness”: While the task of these courses is to transmit ideology, they must also inspire a critical spirit, an essential characteristic of Marxism
iv) Unification of theory and practice: Political theory should have practical applications.
v) Unification of universality and diversity: While ideology and political theory courses have universal teaching objectives and materials, they should still adapt to local conditions.
vi) Unification and guidance and subjectivity: Courses should maintain a balance between the teacher’s guiding role and empowering students through class discussion and debate.
vii) Unification of indoctrination and inspiration: While indoctrination is essential to Marxist political education, students should also be inspired by the story of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party, socialism with Chinese characteristics, Reform and Opening Up, and the New Era. 
viii) Unification of explicit and implicit education: While some people advocate for hiding ideology and political theory courses within other courses, it is important to be confident in teaching these courses in the open. At the same time, there are ideology and political theory resources in other courses that should be tapped". 

In conclusion, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that the Party’s leadership over ideology and political education courses is key to their success. He asked party committees at all levels to place these courses at the top of their priority lists and said that school party committees should take the lead on improving these courses. 






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