邓小平关于科学技术是第一生产力论断的提出，是对科学技术的本质、功能，对社会发展动力以及对知识分子阶级属性等问题认识上的一次飞跃。这一论断对中国现代化建设具有直接的指导作用。邓小平从科学技术是第一生产力的科学论断出发，对教育作出战略部署：必须充分认识教育的本质，充分发挥教育在社会主义现代化过程中的作用；必须迎着时代，尽快使一批杰出的科学家、工程技术专家脱颖而出；必须以现代科学为基础建构学校教育的课程体系等。为此必须端正教育思想，否则，教育可能要拖住现代化发展的进程 Deng Xiaoping’s proposal that science and technology are the primary productive forces thesis is a leap forward in understanding the nature and function of science and technology, the driving force for social development, and the class nature of intellectuals. This thesis has a direct guiding role in China’s modernization drive. Starting from the scientific theory that science and technology are primary productive forces, Deng Xiaoping made strategic plans for education: we must fully understand the essence of education and give full play to education in the process of socialist modernization. We must meet the times and bring a group of outstanding scientists , Engineering and technical experts come to the fore; must be based on modern science construction of school education curriculum system. To this end, we must correct the educational thought, otherwise, education may have to drag the process of modernization