lifelong learning, the community education has been characterized with ‘learning for all’ and lifelong learning.

(2) In 1988, Announcement on Reform and Enhancement of Moral Education in Primary and Middle School issued by the Party Central Committee mentions that school education should be closely combined with social and family education. In 1999, State Council enacted the 21st century Action Plan for Revitalization of Education and states that experimental attempts for community education shall be carried out, and the system of lifelong education shall be gradually established and improved.

After investigations in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Tianjin, Department of Vocational and Adult Education in Ministry of Education issued the Circular on Carrying out Pilot Projects for Community Education in Certain Regions in April 2000. This is the first time to put forward the connotation and missions of community education, and to ensure that pilot projects for community education will be carried out in 8 cities in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and etc.

In December 2001, Ministry of Education held the meeting on exchanging experiences in pilot projects for community education, and set up the first group of 28 national experimental regions for community education. After that, 114 experimental regions for community education divided into 4 groups have been built up.

In 2008, Ministry of Education set up the first group of 34 national demonstration regions for community education. And this year announced the name list of second group. The National Conference on Education held in July 2010, State Council enacted the National Guideline on Medium- and Long-Term Program for Educational Reform and Development (2010—2020). The guideline clearly put forward that one of aims of educational reform and development is to basically establish the learning-oriented society. Furthermore, in order to achieve this aim, a system-completed lifelong education should be established, the community education in rural and urban areas should be extensively carried out and the establishment of learning-oriented organizations should be accelerated.

(3) At the moment, there are 68 national experimental regions for community education and 68 national demonstration regions for community education and over 400 experimental regions and demonstration regions for community education at provincial level.

Community education in China has been rapidly developed. It has been popularized in the majority of urban and rural areas in southeast coastal regions and in some of midwestern cities. However, there is still uneven development between the Eastern Region and the Western Region.

### 4. Management structure

Community Education Centres are managed by Community Education Steering Committee at district or county level under supervision of Bureau of Education at district or county level.

The expenditure of community education centres (colleges) at district or county levels are allocated by governments at district or county levels, and those at sub-districts or township levels are supported by governments both at district or county levels and at sub-districts or township levels. Additionally, the majority of education and trainings offered to residents is free for charge.