Religious heads get a lesson in higher education
Print Edition
IMAM Ding Hefei has finally realized his college dream alongside 39 other Muslim, Buddhist, Protestant, Catholic and Taoist clergy members in northwest China’ s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The 39-year-old imam is studying under a new program to provide higher education to religious workers in the region. He takes online courses after his busy daily religious affairs at the Xinhua Mosque in Ningxia’s Shangqiao Township.
For Ding, it’s a “rare opportunity” to attend college.
“I started to serve religious duties after graduating from high school, burying my dream deep in my mind for long,” said Ding, who explained the fixed schedules in colleges had long kept him from attending.
In April, 40 clergy members in ages from 26 to 52 and representing all kinds of religious institutions in Ningxia became classmates.
They are the first group of students to enroll in the two-and-a-half-year online junior college certification program, which will give them a major in Chinese language application.
The Beijing Normal University provides the courses through its online education platform in a joint effort with the Ningxia Institute of Socialism.
The religious personnel will complete 22 courses, hear lectures on situation and policy, and participate in field study during the program.
“Ningxia has taken the first step to offer education for religious personnel nationwide, meeting their increasing demands for education,” said Xing Zonglan, an official with the institute.
There are over 10,000 clergy members representing the major religions of Ningxia. Most have low education levels, with few holding college degrees or higher. The region previously provided short-term education for clergy on national and regional conditions, as well as national religious policies.
“The previous courses were helpful, but more clergy aspire to receive academic educations with degrees,” she said.
In 2013, the institute initiated the program with Beijing Normal University to cultivate more high-quality religious personnel. The program is tuition-free with tuition waivers from University and a special fund from the regional government.
The program is expected to last five years, taking in 40 students each year. “We are also making efforts to start more higher education programs with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, providing a systematic channel to cultivate more high-quality clergy," said Xing.
“Today’s followers of Buddhism have a higher cultural knowledge level. Their questions on Buddhism are more sophisticated,” said Ruzhao Master at Haibao Tower Temple, a prominent temple in the regional capital of Yinchuan.
“We can only answer their questions clearly and carry Buddhism forward if we keep on learning,” he said.
The students have two courses on legal basis and general literature theory, discussing and doing homework online.
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