ENG-2012 — Page 176

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Education

Community Participation in Education

Home-school Co-operation

The Committee on Home-school Co-operation promotes home-school co-operation by encouraging the establishment of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). As at 2012, about 1,400 PTAs had been established and in 2012 the EDB funded the PTAs' organisation of about 3,000 school-based and district-based home-school co-operation activities.

School Business Partnership

The EDB's Business-School Partnership Programme takes students out of the classroom to gain a wider perspective on society. In 2012, about 170 business firms participated in the programme, organising more than 300 activities and benefiting over 180,000 students.

Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education

The Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education advises the Government on civic education, collaborates with the Government and other parties in arranging civic education activities, and funds community organisations to organise activities promoting civic education outside school. In 2012, the committee concentrated on encouraging a positive attitude towards life, fostering family harmony with a view to cultivating an integrated and harmonious society, instilling core civic values and respect for human rights and the rule of law, promoting understanding of the Basic Law, and enhancing a sense of national identity.

The committee's website promotes various aspects of civic education and provides information on national education. In 2012, the committee organised a range of activities, including a TV programme on national education, a civic education exhibition and a competition about the Basic Law. The committee also produced civic education materials, including a family magazine, a youth magazine and a calendar.

The Civic Education Resource Centre (CERC) in Chai Wan is open to the public. The CERC comprises a 'Resource Corner, where reference materials and teaching kits on civic education and youth development are kept, a 'Civic Square' and a 'Gallery. Equipped with audio/visual facilities, the Civic Square can be used for training courses, seminars, sharing sessions and youth activities and film shows about civic education. The Gallery allows visitors to experience and explore different aspects of civic education with the aid of videos and interactive games. Guided tours are provided for groups and exhibitions are held periodically to promote core civic values.

Commission on Youth

The main tasks of the Commission on Youth include advising the Government on youth development, initiating studies on youth, helping to promote youth development, enhancing communication between young people and the Government, and providing young people with exchange opportunities in the Mainland and overseas.

To enhance communication between young people and the Government, the commission held the biennial 'Youth Summit 2012, attended by the Chief Executive and several principal

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