"All primary, secondary and tertiary schools should offer law as
required course," said Peng Fuchun, deputy to the 10th National
People's Congress and tutor of students doing doctor's degree in
central China's Wuhan University, at a panel discussion of the 1st
session of the 10th NPC.
Peng returned from Germany with Ph.D., known for his outstanding
attainment in the study of China's practical issues.
To
build a well-off society, he said, it is necessary to rule the
country by law. A socialist legal system with Chinese
characteristics has basically taken shape and the society also
calls for judicial justice.
But the problem lies in the lack of law awareness, he said. Unlike
most of the developed countries, China does not offer the course of
law in schools, resulting in a poor understanding of the
Constitution and other laws.
When civil disputes occur, people tend to look to administrative
leadership for help rather than bringing the cases before the law,
he said, indicating that the people do not know much about the
rights and obligations of citizens. Students who come into conflict
with their parents would opt for flee instead of recoursing to the
law on the protection of the underage.
It
is, therefore, very urgent to make courses on the constitution and
other laws compulsory in Chinese schools so as to cultivate the
sense of citizenship and the law.
He
also proposed for a special fund to promote education in law.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2003)
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