Chinese studying abroad are to be targets of ¡°patriotic¡± education, according to a directive from the country¡¯s Ministry of Education, which also emphasises using education to create loyalty to the ruling Communist Party.

The , publicised earlier this month and reported on by , says that students abroad should have a ¡°positive patriotic energy¡±.

It is unclear exactly how Chinese students at Western universities would receive more ¡°patriotic¡± education, but the directive suggests the building of a ¡°multidimensional contact network linking home and abroad¡± using embassies, consulates and overseas student groups to ensure that Chinese students ¡°feel that the motherland cares¡±.

Undergraduates are already subject to mandatory lessons on Marxism and morality and are given the Communist Party version of China¡¯s modern history.

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This latest directive includes a call to ¡°organically instill the patriotic spirit into all subjects, curriculums and standards for primary, secondary and higher education in morals, language, history, geography, sports, arts and so on¡±,?The New York Times?reported.

University and college students should be instructed to ¡°always follow the party¡± and be ¡°clearly taught about the dangers of negativity about the history of the party, nation, revolution and reform and opening up, as well as of vilifying heroic figures¡±.

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¡°Guide youthful students to establish and maintain correct views of history, the nation, state and culture,¡± the document says, according to The?New York Times. ¡°Constantly enhance their sense of belonging to the Chinese nation.¡±

david.matthews@tesglobal.com