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Education

programmes, and supports worthwhile initiatives and schemes to enhance and assure the quality of self-financing post-secondary education.

In the 2012-13 academic year, 5,622 scholarships and awards were distributed by the two funds.

In the 2013-14 academic year, the two funds have introduced new scholarships/awards for deserving post-secondary students with special educational needs.

The government's Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers aims to attract persons proficient in English to pursue local bachelor degree programmes and/or teacher training programmes majoring in English or a relevant subject which will qualify them to become English teachers on graduation.

Community Participation in Education

Home-school Co-operation

The Committee on Home-school Co-operation encourages the establishment of Parent- Teacher Associations (PTAs). As at 2013, about 1,400 PTAs had been established. The EDB funded about 3,100 school-based and district-based home-school co-operation activities in the 2012- 13 school year.

School Business Partnership

The EDB's Business-School Partnership Programme takes students out of the classroom to gain a wider perspective of society. In the 2012-13 school year, more than 300 activities were organised which benefited 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 2013, the committee concentrated on encouraging a positive attitude towards life, fostering family harmony to cultivate an integrated and harmonious society, instilling core civic values, and promoting understanding of the Basic Law and the Mainland.

The committee's 'Respect and Inclusiveness' campaign implemented in 2013 aimed to encourage mutual respect in the community for those from different cultural backgrounds and with different points of view. Two sets of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest were produced with a similar theme. Other projects included a civic education exhibition, a competition about the Basic Law and a TV programme jointly produced with Radio Television Hong Kong to enhance understanding of the Mainland. Civic education materials produced included a family magazine, a youth magazine and a calendar.

The Civic Education Resource Centre at the Youth Square in Chai Wan comprises a 'Resource Corner, with reference materials on civic education and youth development, a 'Civic Square' and a 'Gallery Equipped with audio/visual facilities, the Civic Square is used for training courses,

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