On May 14, 1955, Chairman Mao, when receiving all the comrades of the First Company, proposed to everyone the task of studying culture. On July 20th of this year, he gave specific instructions again, saying: "According to the characteristics of your tasks, you can learn less standardized drills and more cultural and scientific knowledge, more geography, history, mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Graduate from middle school in five years."... Once the middle school curriculum was completed, according to Chairman Mao's instructions in 1957, an spare-time university was established. Chairman Mao said: "You must not only be martial, but also become political personnel with culture. If you study in this school for seven or eight years, you will become college students from worker-peasant backgrounds."

(Excerpt from "Report on the Cultural Learning Situation of On-the-Job Cadres of the First Company of the Central Guard Regiment")