More information
Description
The problem to which this project relates is mainly the low existence of educational resources in the fields of civic education, human rights and citizen participation, which is all the more serious as the specific training of teachers is unsystematized. The project aims to create educational resources for pre-university teachers, with a focus on
discipline Civic education - Social education, but also for teachers of History or Romanian Language and Literature. We will create a working group that will first identify the existing resources. In the second phase, the group will analyze and select contents and competencies from the programs "Social education" - grades 5-8, "Social studies" - 12th grade, "History" 6th, 7th grades, 10th and 11th and from the Curriculum to the School Decision - “Education for Development”, “Intercultural Education”, “Education for Democracy”, “Civic Education”, “International Humanitarian Law” and “Media Skills” . Educational materials will be created for the selected contents and will be tested for two semesters in the partner schools. Teachers will receive a set of resources for conducting at least four lessons and a form that will be applied to students at the end of each class. The teacher will have to complete a report for each lesson. Based on the questionnaires completed by the students and the teachers'' reports, the resource packages will be improved to meet the educational needs. At the end, there will be at least 3 training sessions for 45 teachers from the counties targeted by the project. Resource packages will also be uploaded to a site created specifically for this purpose. The Transcena Association will deal with the educational part of the project, and E-Romnja with the coordination in the territory of teachers and schools from rural and small urban areas.
Summary of project results
The project was initiated to address the pressing need for civic education among young people in Romania, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where students face significant educational and social challenges. At the age of 18, Romanian youth acquire full rights and responsibilities as adults; however, many lack a clear understanding of civic participation, decision-making, and accountability. Furthermore, by the age of 15, when they are legally permitted to work, it is essential that young people are aware of their rights and obligations and have developed habits of exercising these responsibilities.
The project was implemented in the counties of Bacău, Călărași, Giurgiu, Prahova, and Bucharest in collaboration with 15 partner secondary and high schools. A core component of the project was the development and testing of 24 civic education resource packages (exceeding the initial target of 20), tailored for middle and high schools. These resources incorporated interactive theater-based education methods and included 12 video materials (surpassing the planned 10) created by students from 4 partner schools. The resource packages were piloted in 61 instructional hours during the 2021-2022 academic year, with contributions from 21 volunteers.
Further activities included the delivery of 13 hours of media literacy training (compared to the planned 12) and the facilitation of 12 student advocacy campaigns within schools, of which 4 campaigns continue to operate post-project. Responding to educators’ feedback, an advocacy guide for schools was developed, although this was not part of the original project design. Additionally, 45 teachers were trained across 3 dedicated training sessions, equipping them with practical tools for delivering civic education.
The project significantly improved civic education among young people in Romania, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by enhancing their understanding of democratic principles, rights, and responsibilities. Participants, especially those aged 15 to 18, gained practical experience through student councils, debates, and local initiatives, fostering a sense of civic engagement and accountability. The project also helped reduce disparities in civic participation between urban and rural youth by providing access to quality educational resources. Teachers benefited from training that enabled them to integrate civic education into their curricula, ensuring long-term impact. As a result, students became more informed and active citizens, educators gained valuable tools for teaching civic responsibility, and communities witnessed increased youth participation in decision-making processes.