Free education for the people

Some time ago the mum of my Chinese family left home for a couple of days to 'study'. I was curious as to what did she have to study (she works in the provinvial tax bureau) and I was told that every now and then, employees from each work unit have to study socialist philosophy and especially the heroic deeds and important teachings of important Chinese communists. So, each year the themes change through different people and time periods. On the main TV channel, the China Central Television 1, they run spots about the current theme, which right now is a somebody somebody who apparently did very many good things. So, the employees spend a couple of full days studying the topic, after which they have to pass an exam. What happens if you don't pass is something i didn't ask...