VI. Universalize Education, Disseminate General and Scientific Knowledge and Raise the People's Cultural Level

The development of education, science and culture is a prerequisite not only for material progress but also for ideological and ethical progress. In today's world, science is increasingly becoming a revolutionary driving force of history. In fact, it has become a main indicator of the level of progress a nation has attained. Thus, in our modernization drive it is especially important for us to pursue knowledge and to respect and utilize science. We should work hard to universalize education and to spread general and scientific knowledge throughout the country and to raise the people's cultural level.

Cultural activities and institutions - education, scientific research, literature and art, the press and publication, radio, cinema and television, health services, physical culture, management of cultural relics, libraries, museums and so on - all have an important role to play. We should work to greatly expand them in light of the conditions of our country, a vast territory with uneven economic and cultural development. It is particularly important to expand education and scientific research, which are among the strategic priorities in our overall scheme for socialist modernization, because without them, not only can there be no socialist culture and ideology, but there can be no sustained economic growth. The state should ensure their expansion through proper policies and adequate funding, at the same time encouraging all sectors of society to give support. All localities should map out specific plans for their cultural development and make sure that they fulfil the tasks in this field, just as they are required to reach their economic targets.

Because our cultural undertakings are socialist in character, the ultimate criterion for evaluating their success must be their social effect. In order to satisfy the varied demands of the masses, we must try to improve the quality of our intellectual products. We must also restructure our system of management of cultural affairs and improve the related administrative work, so as to promote China's cultural development.

Educational, scientific and cultural workers, who share the honourable but arduous task of fostering socialist culture and ideology, should understand what our people demand of them in this historical period and try to raise their own ideological and ethical standards as well as their professional competence. Leading bodies at all levels should do organizational work and help intellectuals in different ways to familiarize themselves with the many varied activities of the masses who are creating a new life. In construction and reform they should enlist as many intellectuals as possible as consultants and ask them to contribute their share to policy decisions. As for key programmes and highly trained people who have made outstanding contributions, the leading bodies should give them vigorous support by helping to create the conditions necessary for their success. They should give moral encouragement and material rewards to creators of excellent intellectual products and to other educational, scientific and cultural workers who have distinguished themselves. In particular, the leading organizations should introduce awards to be given, as a high honour, to intellectual products that represent the highest scientific and cultural attainments of our nation. In every aspect of our work, we must make further effort to ensure respect for knowledge and for highly trained people. Improvement in the status of intellectuals, the tapping of their potential and the solidarity and common endeavour of workers, peasants and intellectuals will be our best guarantee of success in modernizing the country.