Dazzling photos of the start of the school year in Wuhan: This party deserves a military march (video)

The school year began on Wednesday, September 1 in China. Pictures from Wuhan show the impressive flag-raising ceremony.

An AFP video on Wednesday, September 1, revealed a flag-raising ceremony at a school in Wuhan. A calculated celebration reminiscent of a military rally. The new school year brought a new one: elementary textbooks filled with “Xi Jinping Thought,” a way for the Communist Party to instill patriotism and cultivate the cult of the president. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, this new content has been incorporated into all programs and is of interest to all students up to the university.

Textbooks contain quotes from the president about patriotism or the responsibilities of citizens. The chapters in particular evoke the party’s role in the fight against poverty and Covid-19. Primary school teachers shouldTo sow in the hearts of young people the seeds of love for the party, the homeland and socialism, according to a government notice.

“A world-class army”

Xi Jinping thought about Chinese-style socialism in the new era“, from its full name, consists of several principles calling for national solidarity, development and preservation of Party power. It especially urges the Chinese to”Confidence in their culture“, To implement”common prosperity” employment “Putting people at the center of development“to do”Strengthening the rule of law“or make up”world class army“.

Adam Ni, director of the China (Australia) Policy Center, told AFP that the pamphlets were meant to “promote Xi’s worship but also instill a greater sense of national pride”. Xi Jinping Thought was enshrined in the constitution in 2018 during a parliamentary meeting that also scrapped the two-term limit, allowing him to remain in power indefinitely.

Since then, this thought has been widely cited by the media and government officials, in a plethora of contexts such as art, economic development or the fight against Covid. Universities opened institutes dedicated to its study. Politics lessons were already the norm in middle and high schools, but with these new textbooks now in primary school, ideology is invited from an early age.

Several parents expressed to AFP their unease, but refused any interview for fear of getting into trouble. “Brainwashing now begins in childhoodA user of Chinese social network Weibo complained on Wednesday.Can we refuse it?Another denunciation. This action comes at a time when the authorities are launching a violent campaign against the addiction of minors to online video games, which they will now be able to play only three hours a week.