Chinese primary and secondary schools have taken an unconventional approach to educating students on the rule of law. They have invited prosecutors to serve as deputy principals in the schools. This move has been made to create a deeper understanding of the law among students.
According to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), approximately 40,000 prosecutors have been working concurrently as deputy principals in over 77,000 primary and secondary schools across China. These prosecutors have been assigned the role of educating students on the rule of law.
This idea was suggested by national lawmaker Jiang Liying. Jiang, who is also a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), put forth the proposal during the annual session of the NPC in 2021. In the proposal, Jiang suggested that prosecutors could serve as “counsellors on the rule of law.”
Jiang argued that involving prosecutors in school education on the rule of law would help optimize resources for education in this field. This suggestion was accepted by the SPP. The SPP, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, then released a document defining the roles and duties of prosecutors working as deputy principals.
According to the document, prosecutors working as deputy principals would help with education on the rule of law, safety management, and legal affairs. They would offer instructions through the interpretation of specific cases, provide help to the running of legal aid centers, and offer legal advice to schools, students, and parents.
During the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in 2021, Jiang Liying, a deputy to the NPC, submitted a proposal to involve prosecutors in school education on the rule of law. In the proposal, Jiang suggested that prosecutors could serve as “counsellors on the rule of law” and work concurrently as deputy principals in schools.
Jiang noted that this measure would help to “optimize resources for education in this field.” The proposal was accepted by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), leading to the involvement of prosecutors as deputy principals in primary and secondary schools across China.
The SPP and the Ministry of Education jointly released a document that defined the roles and duties of prosecutors working as deputy principals. According to the document, prosecutor-deputy principals would provide help in education on the rule of law, safety management, legal affairs, and other related areas. They were expected to offer instructions through the interpretation of specific cases, help run legal aid centers, and offer legal advice to schools, students, and parents.
The role of the prosecutors working as deputy principals in schools extends beyond offering help in education on the rule of law, safety management, and legal affairs. They are also expected to provide various forms of legal assistance to the school community, including instructions through the interpretation of specific cases, help in the running of legal aid centers, and offering legal advice to schools, students, and parents.
The proactive involvement of the SPP in handling proposals made by NPC deputies and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference over the past five years underscores the importance of their role in safeguarding national security, social stability, economic and social progress, justice, and the well-being of the people. The decision to involve prosecutors in school education on the rule of law is just one of the many measures being taken by the Chinese government to enhance its legal system and ensure the proper functioning of the rule of law.
Through the involvement of prosecutors in schools, Chinese students will have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of the rule of law and the role of the judiciary in the country. By educating students on the importance of the rule of law and providing them with legal advice and assistance, prosecutors can help foster a culture of lawfulness in China, which will contribute to greater social stability and economic prosperity.
In summary, the involvement of prosecutors in school education on the rule of law is part of a larger effort by the Chinese government to strengthen its legal system and promote the rule of law. Through the education and legal assistance provided by prosecutor-deputy principals, students will have a better understanding of the rule of law and the role of the judiciary in China, which will contribute to greater social stability and economic prosperity.
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