Parliamentary Year Book are thrilled to have Oxfam join and support the campaign to champion citizenship education. They wrote to us to tell us why they feel citizenship education is so significant:
“According to Ipsos-MORI, over two thirds of learners believe they can do something to assist make the world a stronger place, and three-quarters believe that it is significant that schools assist them appreciate what this could be1. We consequently know that younger people don’t just care about the wider world, they wish to play an active function in strengthening it.
At Oxfam we firmly believe that younger people deserve the chance to develop as informed, responsible and active global citizens. To achieve this young people need to be given the skills to negotiate the complex nature of many of the problems we face, and to gain the confidence to act.
This is only possible through devoting time and space within the school curriculum to develop political and media literacy, examine and debate rights and responsibilities, develop their ability to think critically, and practise the skills of advocacy and representation. Such skills empower younger people to play an active function within society.
Without Citizenship Studies, which aims specifically to develop these skills, schools may find it harder to meet the needs of younger people adequately. It additionally risks de-valuing the significance of such skills within school.
If we are to live in a more democratic, equitable and just society it is essential that we support younger people in becoming the active citizens they wish and deserve to be. ”
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