Doc. 10998
5 July 2006
Training teachers for education for democratic citizenship and human rights
Motion for a recommendation
presented by Mr Glavan and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it |
The European Year of Citizenship through Education, carried out by the Council of Europe in 2005, was instrumental in pointing out that citizenship and human rights education (EDC/HRE) is closely linked to the core values of the Council of Europe, and to its main objectives. It needs to become a permanent area of action for the Council of Europe, as it supports and promotes the Council of Europe work in its main priority fields: human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The “Year” helped to identify the main areas in which citizenship and human rights education (EDC/HRE) should be strengthened and promoted. One key area is that of training the multipliers working in this field with educational institutions and youth organisations but also with institutions and administrations. In many member states very little systematic support is provided for initial or in-service teacher professional development in EDC/HRE. The in-service teacher training activities appeared often to be the result of ad hoc initiatives, school-based schemes or collaboration between school and civil society. The Council of Europe has already done some important work in this field. Particular attention should be drawn to the recommendations coming from the “Conference on Teacher Training for Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights” organised from 15 to 17 June 2005. In order to make this work sustainable, further efforts need to be undertaken over the next years. Such efforts should include development and testing of guidelines and tools, training of teacher trainers and other multipliers taking into account the “whole school approach” and setting up of the network of excellence on teacher training.
The Assembly is convinced that parliamentarians have an important role in promoting education for citizenship, including the adoption of relevant legislation, monitoring its implementation and maintaining dialogue with education practitioners. Following its seminar in Belgrade in November 2005 on the role of parliaments in promoting EDC/HRE, the Assembly hopes to continue to be associated with this activity.
The Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers to press for co-ordinated action in training for EDC/HRE, in accordance with the Action Plan adopted at the Third Summit which foresees that “the Council of Europe will enhance all opportunities for the training of educators, in the fields of education for democratic citizenship, human rights, history and intercultural education”.
Signed (see overleaf)
Signed 1:
GLĂVAN, Stefan, Romania, ALDE
AGER, Hans, Austria, EPP/CD
ALMÁSSY, Kornél, Hungary, EPP/CD
BARGETZE, Rony, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD
Baroness, HOOPER, Gloria, United Kingdom, EDG
BOUGAS, Ioannis, Greece, EPP/CD
BRASSEUR, Anne, Luxembourg, ALDE
COŞKUNOĞLU, Osman, Turkey, SOC
de MELO, Maria Manuela, Portugal, SOC
de PUIG, Lluís Maria, Spain, SOC
DEMIRCHYAN, Stepan, Armenia, ALDE
DROMBERG, Kaarina, Finland, EPP/CD
FISCHER, Axel, Germany, EPP/CD
GLĂVAN, Stefan, Romania, ALDE
GUNNARSSON, Kristinn, Iceland, ALDE
HUSEYNOV, Rafael, Azerbaijan, ALDE
KOZMA, József, Hungary, SOC
MARQUET, Bernard, Monaco, ALDE
MUTTONEN, Christine, Austria, SOC
RAU, Zbigniew, Poland, NR
Lord, RUSSELL-JOHNSTON, Russel, United Kingdom, ALDE
WACH, Piotr, Poland, EPP/CD
WESTERLUND PANKE, Majléne, Sweden, SOC
WODARG, Wolfgang, Germany, SOC
1 SOC: Socialist Group
EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
EDG: European Democratic Group
UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
NR: not registered in a group