Citizenship education in schools

Abstract

Education is a vital socialising agent in society. It is one of the building blocks of society. The school is where education is imparted and where children learn and train to become upright citizens. Citizenship education is essential. It ensures that future citizens learn to value each other, respect the laws, and learn rights and obligations. The study considered a section of Maltese secondary school students and tried to establish young people's perception of the word 'citizenship' together with the rights and obligations pertaining to it. It also inquired to what extent the education system is presently educating young people as future adult citizens. The collection of information involved quantitative and qualitative methods held among private and government schools students. Questionnaires and focus groups were held among eight schools. Research results seem to indicate that while young people have a good knowledge of the meaning of citizenship, they feel that a wider knowledge base is necessary for them to understand the implications of citizenship with the rights and responsibilities that this carries. Moreover, it seems that students still lack some basic skills such as communication skills, decision-making skills, and group skills. Discussion and participation is not much encouraged, consultation with students is rare, and all responsibilities and decisions are left in the hands of authority, in a didactic style of teaching. As a result students seem unmotivated. A new approach of teaching where informal education is integrated within the formal curriculum is proposed embracing a more democratic style necessary for the continued personal and social development of young people. Participation, dialogue, and regulation are essential. Commitment by all concerned is imperative. Youth and community workers have been specifically trained to deal with young people. They can help to facilitate this important change and ensure that citizenship education becomes an integral part of one's life.