Worker-Peasant-Soldier students () were Chinese students who entered colleges between 1970 and 1976, during the later part of the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a Social movement, sociopolitical movement in the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). It was launched by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his de ...

(1966–1976). They were accepted not for their academic qualifications, but rather for their work experience as workers, peasants, or soldiers favored by the

Chinese Communist Party The Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...

as part of the " Five Red Categories" and enjoyed affirmative action during the Cultural Revolution. No one was admitted directly from high school without any previous work experience. In 1977, after

Chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; traditionally Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Mao Tse-tung. (26December 18939September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in ...

's death, the Worker-Peasant-Soldier program ended when

Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping also Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Teng Hsiao-p'ing; born Xiansheng (). (22 August 190419 February 1997) was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and political theorist who served as the paramount leader of the People's R ...

reinstated the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, where high school graduates were once again allowed to enter colleges without having to work first.

Notable students

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party The general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party ( zh, s=中国共产党中央委员会总书记, p=Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì Zǒngshūjì) is the leader of the Chinese Communist Part ...

(since 2012), studied at Tsinghua University as a Worker-Peasant-Soldier student. * Zhao Leji (赵乐际; 1957) is a senior leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, studied at

Peking University Peking University (PKU) is a Public university, public Types of universities and colleges in China#By designated academic emphasis, university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Peop ...

. * Wang Qishan (王岐山; 1948) is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee from 2012 to 2017 and served as the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and

Vice President of China The vice president of China, officially titled the vice president of the People's Republic of China, is the deputy to the president of the People's Republic of China, the List of state representatives of the People's Republic of China, state r ...

(2018–2023); he studied at Northwest University.

References

Cultural Revolution Higher education in China Maoist terminology 1977 disestablishments in China Peasants {{China-hist-stub