MORAL EDUCATION IN CHINA – CULTURAL CONTEXT, HISTORY, AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE

Abstract

The article presents the ways of shaping the morality of Chinese citizens and social attitudes from the beginning of school education to late adulthood. The ways of learning morality are presented: (1) through the school system – through the subject called “moral education” from primary school to high school and ideological education at higher education, (2) through additional activities, such as participation at political organizations, and (3) through the social credit system (adults only). The observations were based on the analysis of research on the core curriculum for teaching the school subject called moral education (primary and secondary school) and my own observations. Analyzes have shown that China has been implementing a moral education plan since the early 1950s, adapting its context to the existing political context. Moralization of citizens is planned and purposeful, and it’s a lifelong process. From the youngest school years to adulthood, the State controls the moral attitudes of citizens, and the “moral” person it is a patriot citizen.