In a time where Europe as a peace project is starting to get questioned, citizenship education comes more in focus. A good way to get informed how it is organised across Europe is a new report the Eurydice network* has released in November 2017. It covers questions like: What do we really mean by citizenship education? How is it taught? How are students assessed? What kind of competencies can be developed, also outside the classroom? What kind of education is provided to the teachers?
The report focuses on 4 themes, each one accompanied by a case study:
- Curriculum Organisation and Content
- Teaching, learning and active participation
- Student Assessment and School Evaluation
- Teacher education, professional development and support
It is especially interesting to read the report with religion and education in mind. For example is “Knowing about or respecting religions” named as one citizenship competence (p. 48). Consequently, Religious Education is named as a subject in which citizenship education takes place. The full report can be accessed here.
* Eurydice is the European network which collects, analyses and spreads information on policies, structures and organisation of the European educational systems. The network was created in 1980 under the initiative of the European Commission.