Released by the State Administration for Religious Affairs last Saturday, the "Administrative Measures for Religious Institutions" will come into effect on September 1.
Formulated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the revised "Regulations on Religious Affairs" which took effect on February 1, 2018, the measures have nine chapters and 83 articles, clarifying the nature and orientation of religious colleges, establishment conditions and standards, procedures and relevant requirements for application for establishment.
The measures also state the operational principles and responsibilities of religious institutions and principals. They clarify the requirements of religious institutions on education and teaching, curriculum opening, enrollment and training. Besides the rights and obligations of teachers and students, they also contain the management responsibilities of government management departments, religious groups, and religious institutions.
Article 9 in Chapter 2 mentions that to apply for higher religious institutes, the applicants should have at least a diploma from a secondary religious institute or an ordinary senior middle school, or an equivalent educational level. Article 10 in the same chapter says the applicants for a secondary religious institute must have at least an ordinary junior high school degree.
Article 27 in Chapter 4 states that secondary religious schools carry out religious education at the secondary specialized level, and higher religious schools at the higher specialized, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
Articles 28, 29, and 30 claim that the basic length of study for religious education at the secondary, higher, and undergraduate levels respectively are two to four years, three to five years, and four to six years.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
