Keywords
Citation
(2001), "Citizenship on the agenda", Education + Training, Vol. 43 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2001.00443hab.011
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Citizenship on the agenda
Citizenship on the agendaKeywords: Community relations, Young people, United Kingdom
Eleven consortia – a mixture of education providers, community organizations and voluntary groups – have been awarded funding for two-year projects to develop citizenship education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds. The projects, managed by the Learning and Skills Development Agency and funded by the Department of Education and Skills, will seek to identify existing good practice in citizenship development and ways of making it more widely available. The aim is to discover the most effective ways of encouraging young people to become active citizens at local, national and international levels, with an emphasis on applying knowledge and understanding of the concepts of citizenship. The projects will also look for ways of forging links between providers of post-16 education and training and community and voluntary organizations.
Citizenship will be part of the national curriculum in schools at key stages three and four (ages 11 to 16) from August 2002. But the intention is that citizenship education will not stop at the age of 16. A report by a Government advisory group, chaired by Professor Bernard Crick, recommended that active citizenship education should be an entitlement for all 16 to 19-year-olds, as well. "Many young people already have an interest in society and their community, but they often lack the confidence, knowledge and skills which would enable them to get more involved", said Chris Hughes, Learning and Skills Development Agency chief executive.
"Citizenship development, through their school, college or place of work, will help them to pursue their interest further. We want to encourage young people to become more actively involved in an area which is important to them. This could be within their local community, in their workplace or with a national organization. Above all, we want to encourage them to make a difference."