Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation and Building Progressive Education Curricula for School Ethnic Unity

Abstract

The cause of ethnic unity progress is a foundational cause for forging a sense of community for the Chinese Nation, and progressive education for school ethnic unity is an important, integral part of the cause of ethnic unity progress. Progressive education curricula for school ethnic unity are school curricula explicitly stipulated by the state. It is an important, integral part of the system of school thought and politics curricula and a completely new curriculum form. Progressive education curricula for school ethnic unity plays a critical, important role in firmly establishing the correct view of the motherland, ethnicity, culture, and history for students of all ethnicities and is also a basic path and vehicle for building a common spiritual home for all ethnicities and firmly molding a consciousness of the community of the Chinese nation. There is a solid theoretical foundation, rich practical explorations, and real need for building progressive education curricula for school ethnic unity. Properly building a system of progressive education curricula for school ethnic unity with Chinese characteristics is an important responsibility for education workers in the new era.

Keywords:

• Consciousness of the community of the Chinese nation
• curriculum building
• methods and paths
• progressive education for school ethnic unity

Notes

1 See National Ethnic Affairs Commission 2015. Zhongyang minzu gongzuo huiyi jingshen xuexi fudao duben (Reader guide to studying the spirit of the central ethnic affairs work meeting). Beijing: Minzu chubanshe (The Ethic Publishing House), 2015.

2 Xi Jinping. “Juesheng quanmian jiancheng xiaokang shenhui, duoqu xin shidai Zhongguo tese shehuizhuyi weida shengli—zai Zhongguo gongchandang di shijiu ci quanguo daibiao dahui shang de baogao” (Win a decisive victory in comprehensively building a well-off society, seize a great victory for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era—report at the CPC’s Nineteenth National Congress). Renmin ribao (People’s daily), October 28, 2017.

3 Xi Jinping. “Zai quanguo minzu tuanjie jinbu biaozhang dahui shang de jianghua” (Speech at national ethnic unity progress award meeting), Zhongguo minzu (Chinese ethnicities) 2019 (10).

4 Staff commentator. “Zhulao Zhonghua minzu gongtongti yishi” (Firmly mold a consciousness of the community of the Chinese nation), Renmin ribao, September 1, 2020.

5 CPC Central Committee General Office and State Council General Office notice “Guanyu shenru kaizhan minzu tuanjie xuanchuan jiaoyu huodong de yijian.” https://www.neac.gov.cn/seac/zcfg/201208/1071834.shtml.

6 “Guojia zhongchhangqi jiaoyu gaige he fazhan guihua gangyao (2010–2020 nian).” Zhongguo gaodeng jiaoyu (China higher education), 2010 (Z3).

7 “Guowuyuan guanyu jiakuai fazhan minzu jiaoyu de jueding.” Zhongguo minzu bao (China ethnic news) Auguat 18, 2015.

8 The “three inseparable” refers to the fact that the Han nationality cannot be separated from the ethnic minorities, the ethnic minorities cannot be separated from the Han nationality, and the ethnic minorities cannot be separated from each other. This was pointed out by former president Jiang Zemin during his visit to Xinjiang in 1990.

9 “Xin shidai aiguozhuyi jiaoyu shishi gangyao.” Renmin ribao November 13, 2019.

10 “Five identifications” includes: (1) Identification with the Great Motherland; (2) Identification with the Chinese nation; (3) Identification with Chinese culture; (4) Identification with the Communist Party of China; (5) Identification with socialism with Chinese characteristics.

11 CPC Central Committee General Office and State Council General Office notice “Guanyu quanmian shenru chijiu kaizhan minzu tuanjie jinbu chuangjian gongzuo zhulao Zhonghua minzu gongtongti yishi de yijian.” Renmin ribao October 24, 2019.

12 Xi Jinping. “Sizhengke shi luoshi lide shuren genben renwu de guanjian kecheng” (Thought and education courses are critical curricula for implementing the basic task of cultivating virtuous people). Qiushi (Seeking truth) 2020 (17).

13 “Four commons” includes: (1) Our vast territory has been explored by all ethnic groups; (2) Our long history has been written by all ethnic groups; (3) Our splendid culture has been created by all ethnic groups; (4) Our great spirit has been cultivated by all ethnic groups.

Additional information

Funding

National Social Science Fund project “Studies on a system of progressive education evaluation indicators for school ethnic unity” [19BMZ081].

Notes on contributors

Minggang Wan

Minggang Wan is a professor at the Northwest Research Center for Developing Minority Education, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou.

Jie Wang

Jie Wang is affiliated with the Northwest Research Center for Developing Minority Education, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou.