Education for Democracy and Human Rights from the Perspective of Central and Eastern Europe Caroline Gebara, European Wergeland Center

WHY DO WE NEED EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRAY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ?

Diversity is part of Europe today! Growing extremism and populism Council of Europe….one of the main purpose of education is learning to live together in diverse democratic societies.

WHAT KIND OF CHANGES ARE NEEDED ? 3 areas curriculum, teacher education, schools

1 – MODERNIZE THE CURRICULA: PUT DEMOCRAY & HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRAL Many countries are undergoing curriculum reforms or have completed those (Croatia, Romania, Ukraine…) preparing students for 21 century. Focus from knowledge to competence-based: How to think ! Not what to think! Eurobarometer 2018: 49% 15-30 year old promotion of critical thinking + media literacy important. Develop knowledge and skills that enable students to find meaningful employment, but also to play active roles as citizens in democratic societies.

WHAT KIND OF COMPETENCES ? dajte nadpis...

EXAMPLE Ukraine Civic competences in Mathematic Since 2016 4 themes across subjects: civic responsibility, sustainable development, health and entrepreneurships. School’s responsibility to develop social and civic competences. Implementation of curriculum: New materials to support teachers how to develop civic competences across subject.

2 – RAISE QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION Low quality in teacher education with often weak/ absent teacher training institutions. Teachers need to be trained to teach in multicultural/lingual classrooms. TALIS 2013: 20 % of teachers felt not prepared for multicultural classrooms and many principals felt challenged by "diversity“. How to create an inclusive school environment? 1 out of 4 students today is foreign born Dealing with controversial issues in the classroom

EXAMPLE BALTIC COUNTRIES LGBT, sexual education, propaganda, different views on history particularly in schools/ regions with larger proportion of Russian speaking students, migration. HOW: Education authorities & civil society organisation Translation of new materials First training for teachers Network/ community of teachers for support Confidence of teachers raised Techniques / how of address CI /facilitate debate applied Peer-to-peer support

EXAMPLE NORWAY Learning about 22 July 2011 and democracy 77 people lost their life in terrorist attack in Norway. Most of them young people participating in political summer camp on Utoya island. 32-year-old man was perpetrator: Defending Norwegian people and culture against multiculturalism. HOW? Workshops for young people and teachers on Utøya Learning Center Young people learn about 22. July 2011 and discuss topics such as hate speech, extremism, anti-democratic forces. What can we do ? civic engagement / activism. Follow-up workshops/ activities with their peers.

"We should never consider human rights and democratic citizenship as "optional extras" or routine obligations- they are vital undertakings to sustain social cohesion, promote inclusion and participation and prevent violence and conflict in our societies. They are an investment in our present and in our future which we cannot afford to overlook« Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra´ad Al Hussein THANK YOU !!! c.gebara@theewc.org