BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE CURRICULUM OF CIVIC EDUCATION IN BULGARIA
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”, Nelson Mandela.
Quoting Nelson Mandela and considering that Education is the key for equal opportunities and the strengthening of social cohesion, the Bulgarian Education System has gradually and progressively implemented a diverse set of support to students. It is contributing to the process of acceptance of the different individual characteristics, reducing discrimination among students and enabling a better integration in society.Civic education gives a better understanding towards society to students at the age of 17-19.
Civic education is included in the final stage of high school and it starts from grade XI and continues to grade XII.
The civics education curriculum for grades XI and XII is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Reference Framework for Key Competences, the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria and the requirements for the results of training in the subject of civic education in the State Educational Standard for general education.
Main goal:
Civic education training is the basis of personal development and the preparation of young people for social realization through the knowledge, mastery and protection of human rights and freedoms, in accordance with the laws of a democratic society. Civic education supports the development and confirmation of the student as a citizen of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union and as a person who:
• is free and capable of making responsible decisions for himself and others;
• knows and defends his rights, freedoms and responsibilities;
• has conscious relations with the state and society;
• is an active participant in social events and has motivation for positive change.
The subject of civic education in grade XI places emphasis on:
- citizens, politics and democracy; - citizens, rights and responsibilities;
- identities and differences in society.
As a result of the comprehensive training in civic education, students acquire the following complex social and civic competences:
• critical thinking and rational argumentation; constructive participation in dialogue and debate; Making decisions; problem solving; peaceful conflict resolution; building and maintaining communities of like-minded people, creating and managing projects; constructive communication in different contexts and social environments, responsible and informed participation in the social and political life of the country, media literacy.
The main activities related to training are:
• development of a socially, communally and/or personally significant project with the aim of positive change in the school environment and the local community;
• study of problems of democratic society and the role of both the individual and the community in solving them; • analysis of the role of the citizen in democratic processes and work on specific cases, close to the environment and everyday life of students; • making an informed choice and creating opportunities for personal fulfillment.
The organization of civic education training in XI grade is based on interactive teaching methods and techniques (debates and discussions, learning through research, learning through practice, learning through experience, case solving, project development).
There are 3 different parts:
1. Citizens, politics and democracy
• Traces the emergence and development of the idea of democracy, guaranteeing human and citizen rights, the responsibility of state institutions and citizens before the law and civil society
• Analyzes the characteristics of the rule of law: rule of law, transparency, honesty, integrity in making institutional decisions.
• Knows the mechanisms of institutional decision-making and assesses their legitimacy.
• Evaluates the possibilities for democratic participation in civil society and student self-government.
2. Citizens, rights and responsibilities
• Analyzes and compares the ideas of freedom, human rights and civil rights.
• Distinguishes private from public sphere of public life.
• Researches cases related to violation of human rights and presents reasoned decisions in writing.
• Evaluates public events in European Union countries and in other countries from the standpoint of human rights.
• Realizes the need for personal participation and responsibility in democratic decision-making at all levels.
3. Identities and differences in society
• Distinguishes the main social groups and communities, understands the specifics of their points of view.
• Distinguishes different types of minority policies – assimilation, (auto)segregation, integration and expresses his own position on them.
• Orients itself in the sources of contradictions between separate ethnic and religious communities and demonstrates a desire to resolve conflict situations in a constructive way.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate constructively in a variety of environments and situations.
It realizes and values its national identity.
Analyzes European culture and values and gives examples of interpenetration and cultural influences.
It connects its European identity with the rights and responsibilities of European citizenship.
The National Curriculum in Bulgaria has a wide emphasis on the development of students´ civic education so that they can develop as successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society. It is based on key concepts such as democracy, justice, rights and responsibilities, identities and diversity that children need to understand and key processes and skills which include critical thinking and enquiry, taking informed and responsible action, they need to develop. The National Curriculum for citizenship sets out teaching requirements that address a wide range of content including environmental protection, consumerism, politics, the role of the media, human rights, Europe, immigration, diversity and international relations. In subjects like English, French, Spanish, Philosophy, Geography, Civic education teachers use topical political and social issues to bring citizenship content to life and to help pupils develop key citizenship skills of research, discussion and debate, as well as to represent the views of others, think critically, evaluate and reflect. The Civic education curriculum aims to develop student's ability to participate in communities and wider society as informed, critical and responsible citizens. The purpose of "active citizenship" is to teach students to work together and take practical action, using their Citizenship knowledge and understanding to contribute to a better society
Education Policies in civic education at GPCHE”Yordan Radichkov”-Vidin, Bulgaria
In the “Strategy for development 2021/2027” of GPCHE ”Yordan Radichkov” -Vidin, Bulgaria a special section deals with civic education at school.http://radichkovlsvidin.org/files/2022/04/STRATEGIA GPCHE.pdf
GPCHE “Yordan Radichkov” is oriented towards the formation and development of the key competencies and skills for life and work in the XXI century. The implementation can be acquired within these activities:
- Providing a modern educational environment to ensure a unified approach at the application of key competences in the field of education;
- Emphasis on building social skills and emotional intelligence;
- Shifting the focus of learning from teaching knowledge to developing abilities to solve problems;
- Emphasis on formation of scientific, financial, digital media literacy and spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation;
- Teaching active citizenship and media leiteracy;
- Investing in learning foreign languages and acquiring digital and communication skills;
- Development and implementation of a system for conducting and evaluating students’ progress in the system of school education in an electronic environment;
Special focus is put on civic education at school. It comprises the formation of School parliament with the election of one representative from every class. All decisions about school level are taken through voting on specially appointed meetings.
Different clubs offer civic education approaches to social problems:
- “Interact club”- gathers students with clear idea to help the community with different initiatives – raising money for social causes or organizing charity events;
- “Lion’ club juniors” – students work together with students from other schools in town in social enterprises;
- “Euroclub”- students study different issues connected with European union and participate in different competitions. They attended the youth event “Your Europe, your say” three years ago and are preparing for the new event;
- “Club for social initiative”- students organize bake sales, concerts, matches to promote a social initiative in town;
- “Youth club” at Regional library “Mihalaki Georgiev” in Vidin organizes social events to our students in helping deprived children in orphan institutions;
- “Social entrepreneurs club” at Business incubator office – Vidin works with students from our school on different social projects;
“ Debating club in English” teaches students how to manage different types of debating. Our students prepare throughout the school year and participate in Bulgarian English speaking tournament, which is organized by Teachers of English among Bulgarian schools. There are four competitions
during the school year - three regional and one national - and our students from the Debating club travel to participate in all of them. Our students usually win prizes at regional levels and compete at national level.
GPCHE”Yordan Radichkov” - Vidin is the school that is proven among the region as a center for the formation and development of personal qualities and skills of its students. It works constantly about building the value system of young people and it turns into a cultural, information and sports center. The school improves and establishes favorable environment for learning and personal development of the students. The school applies behavior patterns based on the ideas and principles of civic education in its everyday work.