Year: at the third session of the fifth CPPCC National Committee held in 1980

Proposal No: 0513

Proposers: 157 CPPCC National Committee members including Zhou Jianren

Content: 

China must promote universal education in order to become a modern socialist country that is highly democratic and civilized.   

1. Raise people's awareness of how important universal education is. Cadres at different levels of government should be the first to realize the importance of universal education, which concerns the future of the entire nation. 

2. The State should set a deadline for local governments to popularize primary education in rural areas and junior middle school education in urban areas. Areas that have difficulty in doing so need to submit an application for postponement after deliberation of the issue by the local people's congress. Special attention should be given to ethnic minority areas. 

3. The State should make it clear that popularizing education is the responsibility of local governments. They must fund the drive and the State will provide subsidies. The local people's congress has the authority to design the specific measures according to local conditions. There is no need for a unified approach. Local governments are evaluated based on the quantity and quality of their work and they are to report to the local people's congress and the higher government. The State should recognize areas that have popularized education ahead of or on schedule and give them financial rewards. 

4. It should be written into law that citizens have the right and the responsibility to receive education. We suggest that an education law be formulated as soon as possible, stipulating that those who haven't received universal education are not eligible to hold public positions. Salaries should be graded according to educational background. Incumbent public servants should study to reach the required level by a pre-set deadline, or risk removal from their posts. 

5. Local educational departments are responsible for popularizing education in their own regions. Their work will be evaluated by their superiors. 

6. Develop spare-time education programs and public courses to reinforce and enrich what is learned in the classroom. 

7. State funding for universal education should be gradually increased as the budget allows. The funds should be clearly earmarked and protected from misuse.