Communist Party orders Marxism course for universities

Mainland universities have been told to step up propaganda and teaching of Marxism and Chinese socialism, amid calls from President Xi Jinping for greater “ideological guidance” for teachers and students, writes Li Jing for South China Morning Post.

Citing a joint directive from the State Council and the General Office of the Communist Party's Central Committee, Xinhua reported that improving ideological and propaganda work was a “major and pressing strategic task” on campus.

The orders come after Xi called on the authorities last month to step up the party's “leadership and guidance” in universities as well as “strengthen and improve ideological and political work”.
Universities and academics are new targets in Xi's ideological campaigns, amid ever-tighter controls on the media, social critics, religion and the internet. Several liberal college teachers have been either sacked or demoted in the past two years for their outspoken views.
Full report on the South China Morning Post site