SCMP Saturday, December 9, 2000

SCHOOLS
Drive to recruit parents as Scout chiefs
JOYCE LI
Parents are to be encouraged to lead uniformed groups in Hong Kong, including Scouts, Girl Guides and Brownie packs.
The Scout Association of Hong Kong will hold a recruitment drive next week to persuade more principals, teachers, Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) members, and student teachers to become Scout leaders, in line with government policy to promote school-based uniform groups and youth organisations. But schools face the problem of finding enough volunteers to lead packs.
"Packs need to meet certain requirements, such as having adequate Scout leaders and resources before the association will give approval for the school to recruit Scout members," said Patrick Tang Kei-ling, an association assistant chief commissioner.
Many schools did not have Scout packs because teachers were unable or reluctant to be Scout leaders, he said. To counter this, the association started bringing in parents and student teachers to organise activities such as camping, hiking and skills development. The full training programme to be a Scout leader takes 25 months. The recruitment meeting will be held from 9am to noon on December 17 at the Gordon Wu Hall, U/F of the Hong Kong Scout Centre.
The Hong Kong Girl Guides Association will also begin a recruitment drive next month for volunteer leaders and new student members. More than 33,000 girls and women belong to either Brownie, Girl Guide or Ranger packs, for primary, secondary and tertiary students respectively.