Zhang Jianming, the executive deputy-secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Renmin University of China, published an article on Wednesday in the latest issue of Qiushi, a journal under the Central Committee, on the importance of ideological work in college campuses to stabilize the power of the state.
Zhang wrote that overlooking ideological work in colleges can potentially lead to grave consequences, referring to a student protest that took place in the 1980s.
According to Zhang's article, neglecting ideological education will destabilize all of society, not just universities.
This is not the first instance of experts and officials urging for stronger Marxist ideological education in schools.
Hongqi Wengao (Red Flag Manuscript), the CPC-run journal, published an article in October stating that some young people have become estranged from the discourse system of Marxism. The article claims that some of them have even rejected the ideology, refusing to read Marxist classics or accept the rationale of Marxism.
"Their belief in Marxism is not profound enough. Western values, including money worship, consumerism and individualism, have influenced some young people imperceptibly, making them pursue material comforts and sensory stimulation while losing faith," the article said.
Zhang pointed out that young teachers are especially in need of stronger ideological work. He said that 60 percent of teachers are under 40, with more than 20 percent of them having studied abroad.
Some universities have faculty wherein more than half have studied abroad.
Some teachers are uncritical of Western social systems, culture and values, Zhang noted, adding that some of their views may be superficial.
During a forum in Beijing in January, education minister Yuan Guiren told college officials to stop letting "textbooks promoting Western values appear in our classes," Xinhua reported.