Civic education is more than remembering an answer.
You can answer a test question by marking a box. Civic education goes further: who makes decisions in Berlin, how can arguments be assessed, and how can people participate? The agency provides publications, events, projects and online resources for this purpose.
The law connects its remit with taking responsibility for democracy and opposing efforts hostile to democracy and human rights. Non-partisan therefore does not mean treating democratic rights and their abolition as interchangeable positions.
The other three answers
Other institutions have different primary roles.
at the municipal regulatory office
A regulatory office is not the civic education institution requested by the test. Do not confuse dealing with local regulatory matters with this non-partisan educational remit.
at the churches
Churches can discuss political issues and offer education. The question targets the specifically established public agency, however, rather than church institutions.
at the consumer advice center
A consumer advice centre supports people with consumer issues. It is not Berlin’s State Agency for Civic Education, even when individual topics have political connections.
A correct test answer does not create an information monopoly.
You may also learn through other reliable educational resources, media, associations or public events. The choice identifies a particularly suitable public institution; it does not claim that only this body may discuss politics.
A board with members of the House of Representatives accompanies the work and is intended to safeguard its non-partisan character. This does not replace your own critical reading: check whether a learning text explains facts, presents arguments or expresses an assessment.
Sections 12–14 · Civic education · Berlin Adult Education Act ↗Civic education in Berlin: the state agency.
Understand, form your own judgement and participate democratically.
Three words for this question
- überparteilichnon-partisan
- Not directed towards supporting a particular party.
- die Urteilsbildungforming a judgement
- Assessing information and arguments to reach your own view.
- das Kuratoriumadvisory board
- A body that accompanies and advises the educational work.