Establishing a brand-new educational system is a fundamental priority, occupying nearly all of Wei Yuan's time. Merely deciding what to teach and how to teach it is a cornerstone issue for the coming century and must not be underestimated.
Wei Yuan implemented the changes too hastily. While it's easy to add courses to the academy, finding qualified teachers proves difficult. In a short time, numerous issues have emerged, such as many of the temporarily hired teachers not following the given syllabus and instead expounding their own beliefs. Those with a Buddhist background taught Buddhist Law, Daoists instructed in Daoist Skills, Confucian cultivators urged reverence for Saints, and those with diverse practices introduced a medley of concepts. Some even tried to lead students to worship themselves, with the intent of attaining sanctity through incense offerings.
