Civic, Social and Political Education 

Civic, Social and Political Education aims to prepare students for active participatory citizenship. It teaches them what it means to be a citizen and helps them to develop skills for citizenship.  Students are also introduced to Ireland’s political structure, the State and government at local, national and international levels.

 

Aims

Through active exploration and study of citizenship at all levels (personal, local, national, global) in the context of contemporary social and political issues, Civic, Social and Political Education aims to:

1. Make students aware of the civic, social and political dimensions of their lives and the importance of active, participative citizens to the life of the state and its people.

2. Encourage and develop the practical skills which enable students to engage in active, participatory social interaction, and to adopt responsible roles as individual, family member, citizen, worker, consumer, and member of various communities within a democratic society.

3. Develop the autonomous potential of students as socially literate, independent and self-confident young people.

4. Encourage students to apply positive attitudes, imagination and empathy in learning about other people and cultures.

5. Enable students to develop their critical and moral faculties in agreement with a system of values based on human rights and social responsibilities.

6. Develop knowledge and understanding of processes taking place at all levels of society which lead to social, political and economic decision making.

Objectives

1. Students will experience/develop a broad range of knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and values related to active citizenship.

2. Students will learn through a variety of active learning methodologies, where the emphasis is on learning by doing.

3. Students will develop a command of a variety of citizenship skills through activities such as: research, group-work, simulation and action.

Targets for the Curriculum

Students will be encouraged to recognise values and develop positive attitudes in relation to themselves, other people, the environment and the wider world. Through their work on this course pupils will be given opportunities to reflect upon and recognise the beliefs and values which underlie their attitudes and actions as individuals and as members of groups or communities. The values of this course, expressed in the attitudinal objectives below, are based on a commitment to human rights, individual social responsibilities and democracy.

  • Commitment to active citizenship

  • Concern for human rights

  • Care for the environment

  • Respect for human dignity

  • Concern for the common good

  • Openness to resolve conflict non-violently

  • Willingness to act responsibly

  • Practice of tolerance

  • Courage to defend a point of view

  • Willingness to develop one’s opinions and attitudes in the light of discussion and evidence

  • Respect for the rule of law

  • Commitment to oppose prejudice, inequality and social injustice.