"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 problems 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 underaged.
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.
March 11, 2003
Source: Xinhua News Agency
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