Outline of a European Curriculum for Education for Democracy

Abstract

This document outlines the European Curriculum for Education for Democracy (EfD), addressing the key role education plays in fostering active citizenship and democratic values within communities and societies. Recognizing the significant impact of educational practices on both individuals and society, this curriculum aims to dissolve the barriers that isolate schools from their communities, promoting a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to learning. In the world, democratic citizenship is not commonplace among the most prevalent forms of state government; global citizenship condenses many interpretations of responsible democratic citizenship in Europe. UNESCO's emphasis on fostering global citizenship through education underscores the necessity for learners to become informed, critically literate, and socially connected global citizens. The first section of this document elaborates on the global and European context and highlights UNESCO's role in promoting global citizenship, and promoting the democratic culture through educational frameworks, such as CoE’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture. The Project’s framework implementing EfD is Responsible Democratic Citizenship (RDC) framework that emphasizes four key competencies: Solidary Participation, Deliberation, Judgement, and Democratic Resilience. These competencies are designed to nurture active, informed, and resilient democratic citizens. This Outline of a European EfD Curriculum (hereafter Outline) lays out the development of the RDC framework, the current circumstances in the 6 European countries for its implementation and its possible applications in educational settings. It ensures alignment with specific educational standards and requirements while addressing local challenges to democracy. Effective implementation of the Outline for a European EfD curriculum requires innovative learning approaches, high-quality pedagogical materials, and comprehensive teacher training programs. Teachers are equipped with the skills to facilitate democratic education through participatory teaching methods and ongoing professional development. The inclusion of emotions and readiness to change within the learning process enriches students' educational experiences, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. The Outline describes several methodologies, such as Living Labs - innovative research environments involving multiple stakeholders - to develop and test educational initiatives that promote democratic values and RDC competences. These labs provide real-life settings for collaborative problem-solving and continuous improvement of educational tools and strategies. The research approach, combining national and international workshops, desk research, and fieldwork, provides comprehensive data and insights crucial for curriculum development. A RDC evaluation framework is suggested to assess the effectiveness of the pilot projects in Living Labs, focusing on the development of RDC competencies and the overall impact on EfD. The proposed European EfD curriculum integrates democratic values into educational frameworks, preparing individuals to actively contribute to democratic societies. By promoting a holistic approach to education that encompasses formal, non-formal, and community-based learning, the Outline aims to promote the development of RDC competences across diverse educational contexts. The expected outcomes include the cultivation of informed, critically literate, and socially connected citizens who can navigate and contribute to democratic processes effectively. This structured and adaptable approach lays the foundation for a sustainable and effective democratic education system throughout Europe, fostering a generation capable of upholding and advancing democratic principles in an ever-evolving global landscape.