Education for Citizenship and the National Curriculum

Abstract

Throughout Europe citizenship education has been the subject of increasing concern and debate in recent years. The reasons for this are numerous, including concern about low levels of participation in local, national and European elections; concern about the perceived rise of intolerance, xenophobia and racism throughout Europe; particular concerns about some young people and their apparent alienation and marginalization from the mainstream of society; the need for an understanding of and an informed debate on the development of the European Union; and consideration of the role of education in preparing young people for participation in the newly democratic countries of Eastern and Central Europe.