China Issues New School Restrictions, Prompting Warnings of Deeper Ideological Control

Students sing the national anthem in the playground during the flag-hoisting ceremony at their school in Shanghai on Sept. 27, 2017. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Chinese Ministry of Education has issued a new set of rules for basic education, raising concerns among scholars, teachers, and students who say the measures are less about improving teaching and more about tightening political control in schools.The document, released on March 27 and titled the “Negative List for Standardized Management of Basic Education,” lays out 20 “strict prohibitions” for schools. It has already been distributed to education authorities across China, including provincial governments and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), with orders to ensure every school implements it and that all principals and teachers are familiar with its contents.