In mainland China’s middle school language textbooks, there is an increasing amount of mention of the Chinese Communist Party leader “Xi Jinping”. The inclusion of “Xi-contents” has surged, sparking dissatisfaction and questioning among parents.
The Voice of America reported that Ms. Zhang, who works in Beijing, mentioned that she only noticed the mention of Xi Jinping in her child’s textbooks after seeing reports from Chinese media. She stated, “Educating children and teenagers through reading is good, but the problem is that he is not a scholar, using a political figure’s statements as arguments lacks persuasiveness. And what is a general secretary? I have to spend time explaining it to my child.”
The report mentioned by Ms. Zhang refers to the announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Education that starting in September, new revised textbooks for first grade and middle school first grade students have been introduced. By 2026, these textbooks will cover all grades of compulsory education. These standardized textbooks are written, reviewed, and distributed uniformly by the Chinese Communist Party.
The head of the Textbook Bureau of the Ministry of Education told state media that the primary task of the revision is to comprehensively promote Xi Jinping’s new era of Chinese socialism with distinctive features and the spirit of the Party’s 20th National Congress into the textbooks.
For language subjects, post-revision textbooks have selected the text “Cultivate Socialists Who Embody Comprehensive Development in Morality, Intelligence, Physical Health, Aesthetics, and Labor Skills” from “Selected Works of Xi Jinping” (Volume 2) as coursework, and incorporate Xi’s relevant statements in the textbook sections.
Ms. Zhang stated, “Upon reflection, books like ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Student Reader’ have entered elementary and middle schools in the past one or two years, so it’s not surprising that textbooks have changed.”
The above-mentioned reader, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2021, consists of four volumes for primary and secondary schools.
Qiu Jiajun, former associate professor at Tongji University in Shanghai now residing in the United States, remarked, “Xi Jinping clearly aims to follow Mao Zedong’s path, indoctrinating the entire population from a young age to brainwash the nation comprehensively.”
At the university level, the “National Security Education Student Reader” compiled by the Ministry of Education and relevant departments of the Communist Party of China has been published by the Higher Education Press and will soon be introduced into schools.
The “National Security Education Student Reader” has raised concerns among teachers. A deputy professor from a provincial university in Guangdong, speaking anonymously, expressed, “Although the textbooks have not reached students yet, among teachers there is discussion. For instance, the textbook emphasizes the complexity and sharpness of ideological struggles, with phrases like Western countries continuously plotting color revolutions and Sinicizing China, which could easily make less experienced students become sensitive and agitated. We are now worried that a storm of reporting may come because once the textbooks reach students, they will have more reasons to report teachers.”
Lai Rongwei, Executive Director of the Taiwan Inspirational Association, holder of a Juris Doctorate in Law, and Assistant Professor at Longhua University of Technology, stated, “Regardless of politics, economics, or social governance, all of Xi Jinping’s current actions are aimed at maintaining the stability of the Chinese Communist Party’s regime.”
Qiu Jiajun added, “The changes in textbooks serve the CCP’s sole purpose of safeguarding its power. Unfortunately, the present is different from the past, and Xi’s authoritarian dreams are bound to fail, becoming a historical laughing stock.”
Parents in Guangzhou and Shenzhen also feel that Chinese education is increasingly leaning towards the left.
A working parent in Guangzhou remarked, “Our children study in Yuexiu District. There are major issues in education now. Firstly, it’s about money; in support of various educational authorities, Guangzhou state-run schools have established dozens of educational groups, many of which are high-fee private schools. Secondly, it’s about politics, constantly studying Xi Jinping’s ideology, which is acceptable for teachers but should students also follow? This mingling of money and political indoctrination is absurd. Just obey the Party, and some people can shamelessly make money? It’s really out of line.”
Another parent said, “Schools in Shenzhen are becoming increasingly leftist. At the start of the school year, ceremonies encourage children to align themselves with the Party. Xi Jinping just spoke at the national education conference, and the parent committee was advised to focus on learning. As parents, we are definitely resentful inside. How does an economically developed place become the same as an economically backward one? But honestly, we have no choice.”
Qiu Jiajun specifically advised parents to learn together with their children in order to overcome the negative impact of Chinese textbooks.