Monitoring the civic potential of young adolescents in Asian societies

Civic competence is an increasingly important area of study raising issues of what knowledge, skills, attitudes and values adolescents should have acquired before adulthood in order to engage actively in society (Hoskins, 2008). Much of this work has focused on the nature of citizenship in the European Union. There is little indication of any work that has been done in other regions, where civic competence is argued to be affected by political history, economic development and education policy (Hoskins, 2011). The recently completed International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2009) has the potential to show the characteristics young adolescents have demonstrated (i.e. civic competence) as well as how they are preparing themselves (i.e. civic potential) to become civically competent citizens in the future. The inclusion of five Asian societies (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand) in ICCS 2009 provides opportunities to examine possible indicators of civic competence specifically in Asian contexts. ICCS 2009 administered a main survey to students in 38 countries as well as a regional survey to students in these Asian societies. This paper will draw on the data from Asian students who answered both surveys. It will show how Asia’s youth civic potential and civic competence might be conceptualized and tested via the indicators in ICCS 2009 that would be a useful tool for policy makers and citizenship educators in Asia. It will help them to better understand the process and development of youth civic and citizenship knowledge, attitudes values and engagement.