People's Democracy

A delegation of the CPI(M) visited China from July 4-14,  this year. A report of this visit has already been published in the last issue of the People’s Democracy. During this visit, we were taken to two provincial level Party schools there. The experience of these two Party schools is of immense importance for our Party.

JIANXI PROVINCIAL

PARTY SCHOOL

This school is situated in Nanchang, capital of the province. Our delegation had the opportunity of visiting the school and discuss with the leadership of the Party school for a couple of hours. Earlier in Nanchang, there were two schools. One was Cadre Institute; the other was an Administrative Institute. Now the two schools have been merged into one - Provincial Party School. It is having two campuses with a total area of 15.5 hectares of land. This merger took place in 2001. Cadre training at three levels is conducted here. They are provincial, city and county level. Under the Jianxi province, there are eleven cities and the Party schools of all these cities come under this provincial school. Party schools are also there in hundred counties. There are specific administrative structures for Party school. There are professors, associate professors for it. 19 reference divisions and 11 research divisions are there. 432 permanent staff are there in the school. 317 retired personnel are associated with it. Even Ph Ds are conferred by this Party school.

Cadres are trained here in rotation. For advanced cadres, there is training at three levels.

1)     Cadres from different departments.

2)     Cadres from county level.

3)     Cadres from village and county level.

The duration of the school is generally between one - two months. One thousand cadres are trained in each year. This Party school also holds classes for youth and middle aged cadres at county level, for civil servants at county and division level. Such classes are of two-four months duration. Short term training courses are also there. Marxism-Leninism is a subject in this Party school with a special emphasis on its application in the concrete conditions of China. Text book education and practical application, both are given special importance. Tremendous development in the field of knowledge is taking place. Latest developments in the sphere of knowledge are being given special importance in the Party school. Scientific teaching method is followed here. A remarkable thing is that 30-40 per cent of participants are women. This school has got a library and a very strong research section.

CHONGQING

PARTY SCHOOL

We had the privilege of visiting Chongqing Municipal Party school. It is directly under Chongqing Municipal Party Committee. Its area is 20 hectares. Enough classrooms are there for 2500 students. Every year nearly 5000 students come out of this school. This school has 31 research organisations and a huge infrastructure of 350 teachers, 39 professors, 55 vice professors. Chongqing Party school is highly reputed throughout china. It is awarded as the best school by the CPC Central Committee in the year 2011.

The role this party school is playing in party building was explained to us. At present the school is running a three year course where, how to live, to work and to live with peasants are of foremost importance. Students are taught here how to help poor farmers.

Public servants are also trained here for at least one month. The school tries to motivate public servants to work for and with poor and general people. Students at Party school have to pay 25 yuan for only accommodation. Here they are imbibed with the idea of facing and solving people's problems. Subjects are taught to help the students in moving forward. Newly recruited and promoted public servants are trained for at least one month. Also, they have to live with farmers and masses. It is part of the curriculum.

The three characteristics of the Party school that stand out  are its support to poor masses, focussing on basic demands and focussing on all round development of human beings. As reported by comrades who are in charge of Chongqing Party school, it is working with a motto of developing true Party spirit among the cadres. This school is running according to the requirements of Communist Party of China and the nation. Poorest of the villages are selected for Party classes. Cadres are to live, work and eat with farmers there. Theory and practice are given balanced weightage in the Party school. In 2009, special programmes for training Party members in rural branches were undertaken. The theme was, ‘Way to livelihood and development’.

The Party school tries to make the cadres understand the grassroots in a better way, prepare development proposals for villages and do some good for village and villagers. It is an undying fact that Party school has contributed a lot in changing the work style. In Party school, cadres are inspired to follow the examples created by the red army. Here, care is taken so that cadres lead their lives according to the principles of communism. It is the experience that cadres who come out of the Party school are becoming qualitatively developed. It is an achievement of the Party school that more and more people have been made familiar with the ideology of communism.

Communist Party of China is not oblivious of the fact that it is leading China towards socialism. They strongly believe that Marxism-Leninism is not a dogma, it is a guide to action. Socialism with Chinese characteristics on the one hand, and continuously changing international situation demands innovation. The Party schools in China are working with the spirit of innovation.

It is a fact that it was a memorable experience for the CPI(M) delegation visiting China. In visiting Party schools, we have gained valuable lessons. Marxism- Leninism is a creative science, keeping this in consideration, Party schools under the guidance of the CPC are carrying on their activities.