In his speech on June 6, 1950 Zhou Enlai explained the "Common Program" is clear: new democratic education is national, scientific, and mass education. Our education is mass-oriented, serving the people, and this is the direction of our education.
Chapter 5 of the Common Program has 9 articles.
Article 41 describes the general characteristics of culture and education in the People's Republic of China. In the next articles, these characteristics will be elaborated.
Article 42 stresses the importance of nationalism and good citizenship.
Articles 43 and 44 deal with the development of the natural sciences and social sciences.
Article 45 stresses the importance of literature and art to serve the people.
Article 46 includes the unification of theory and practice, and the reformation of the educational system.
Article 47 deals with universal education
Article 48 focuses on sport and health
Finally art 49, deals with reporting truthful news.
Articles 41, 43, 44, 46, and 47 overlap in content.
In the People’s Republic of China, art, education, science, and press are considered important propaganda tools. The structure of the
Bureaus and Subdivisions of the Propaganda Department (Nov. 1951-late 1954) shows this clearly:
Office 办公室
Theory Propaganda Bureau 理论宣传处
Political Education Bureau 政治教育处
Current Affairs Propaganda Bureau 时事宣传处
Mass Propaganda Bureau 群众宣传处
International Propaganda Bureau 国际宣传处
Literature and Art Bureau 文学艺术处
Film Bureau 电影处
Schools and Education Bureau 学校教育处
Science and Public Hygiene Bureau 科学卫生处
Publishing Bureau 出版处
Newspaper and Broadcasting Bureau 报纸广播处
Cadres Bureau 干部处
Bureau of Administration 行政处
Party History Materials Office 党史资料室
Complete Works of Stalin Translation Bureau 斯大林全集翻译室
Selected Works of Mao Zedong English Translation Office 毛泽东选集英译室
Training Class for Propaganda Cadres 宣传干部训练班
What unites newspapers, literature, political theory, education, and hygiene in this chapter of the Common Program? Simply put, they all share the goal of enhancing both the psychological and physical well-being of individuals. The Party’s objective is to cultivate a socialist individual who is free from the physical and mental afflictions produced by the oppressive forces of the "old" society. This is a person whose mind is clear, body is healthy, and who is wholly committed to the Communist Party’s cause.
To achieve such a profound transformation of humanity, individuals must be provided with an environment conducive to the full development of their physical potential and mental nourishment that is pure and constructive. The Chinese media, therefore, operate within a larger framework aimed at achieving these ambitious objectives. Their true purpose can only be understood when viewed in the context of this broader environment, which integrates the Party’s efforts to nurture both the mind and body. This is the perspective offered by the propaganda sector, a space where the Party’s concerns for the mental and physical health of the people converge.
