Citizenship themes
Education for Citizenship is about developing capability for thoughtful and responsible participation in political, social, economic and cultural life. It involves developing participation in decision making, strong community links and sensitivity to values and ethics as well as engagement with the big issues that concern people now and in the future. These pages contain material and approaches which can be used in whole-school activities, or within specific curricular areas or subjects.
_tcm4-366987.jpg "Vaccinations")
Global citizenship
Global citizenship enables young people to actively participate in an increasingly global society. It involves gaining knowledge and understanding of global issues, developing values relating to social justice and self awareness and developing the skills needed to make informed judgements.
Political awareness
Political awareness means having knowledge and understanding of politics and political systems. As young people learn about their rights and responsibilities, they should also learn how to influence their representatives and effect change at a local, national and international level.
Human rights
Human rights are the rights and freedoms we all hold in common as expressed in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Learning about human rights, and the values that underpin them, promotes respect for these rights and freedoms.
_tcm4-358012.jpg "Three diverse friends")
Appreciation of diversity
Appreciation of diversity means learning about, understanding and respecting religious, cultural and spiritual differences. By demonstrating how different people perceive the world, we can enhance young people’s appreciation of the diversity of the society in which they live.
Equalities
Equalities teach us that everyone has a right to participate and everyone has a responsibility to ensure that they do not discriminate, directly or indirectly, against other groups of people. Some common barriers to participation include ethnicity, gender, disability, inequalities of health, poverty, age, sexual orientation and religion.
Peace education
Peace education is about encouraging people to live with respect for each other, for society and for the environment. It aims to develop young people’s skills to resolve conflict and to live peaceably in their schools and communities. An understanding of the wider issues of conflict resolution on a national and international scale is also important.
Media awareness
Media awareness means understanding how the media (television, radio, the internet and newspapers and magazines) communicate information. Young people need to be aware of how and why the media interprets information so that they can make objective judgements.
_tcm4-366986.jpg "On the phone")
Science in society
Science in society is about the way scientific developments impact on every area of social life. Young people need to understand the ethical issues within these developments and be able to critically assess them.
The arts in society
The art in society, including poetry, drama, art and design, can encourage children and young people to express their own ideas, beliefs and values through creative work.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of today without diminishing the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. Learning about the ecological impact our communities have can encourage young people to ‘think locally and act globally’.
Enterprise in education
Enterprise in education equips children and young people with the life skills and values to contribute constructively to the Scottish economy and society.