China to boost ideological funding for young college lecturers
Communist Party targets young lecturers under the age of 40 for ideological education
The Communist Party will increase funding to enhance the ideological education of young lecturers in universities. But analysts see this as another significant signal of a tightening ideological grip on the young, following the publicising of "seven taboos" earlier this month.
A joint document issued by the party's central organisation department, propaganda department and the education ministry's party committee yesterday ordered party organisations in local education departments and universities to reinforce young lecturers' communist education in universities by using 16 advisories.
The advisories call on local party leaders to closely monitor the ideological development of young lecturers because they could have a significant ideological impact on university students, given that the lecturers are close to their students in terms of age and thinking.
Citing an Education Ministry official, Xinhua said teachers under the age of 40 account for 60 per cent of all teaching staff in mainland universities.
The document suggests that university party officials inculcate young lecturers with "correct ideological information" through various channels, including the internet. It says the party will help to improve young lecturers' living standards, resolve their children's educational problems and provide opportunities for promotion for those with correct communist thinking.
The circular follows the controversial "Document No9" which bans university lecturers from discussing seven taboo subjects at work including universal values, freedom of speech, judicial independence, civil society and the party's past errors.
The circular adds to fears that the new leadership under President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang is being influenced by a "leftist wave" despite attempts to present a liberal image.
"Both the seven taboos and the latest 16 advisories are new measures of stability maintenance the top leaders introduced because they are realising there is an unprecedented political crisis, with the young generation being the most powerful threat that could topple the communist regime," said commentator Zhang Lifan .
"The current series of political campaigns indicates that Xi and other leaders - who appear to be open-minded - and some leftists are actually one family that just wants to consolidate the 'one-party-rule' regime."
Xiong Bingqi , deputy director of the Beijing-based 21st Century Education Research Institute, said: "The central leadership should not focus on ideological education, but change their mindset by delegating power to academic organisations to free academics from bureaucracies.".=
