In the recent analysis conducted by Gong, dr. Monika Pažur highlights a significant discrepancy: Croatia stands out as the only country among those examined that has yet to incorporate civic education into its formal education system, either as a separate subject or as content integrated into modules in other subjects. Analysis of Non-formal Civic Education Possibilities: The Case of Croatia, Finland, Austria, and Romania examines four key pillars of democracy (representation, rights, rule of law, and participation), with Finland ranking highest, followed by Austria, then Croatia, while Romania ranks last in terms of levels of democracy. The research found that countries with higher levels of democracy (Finland and Austria) have a clear and comprehensive legal framework and support programs for implementing civic education into formal school systems. Additionally, both Finland and Austria have developed programs that offer financial support for the implementation of non-formal education formats.
Highlighting examples from more democratically developed countries, the author urges Croatian national decision-makers, responsible for regulating the legal, expert, and financial framework of civic education through formal and non-formal programs, to clearly define outcomes and implementation possibilities, as well as the necessity of following the guidelines of the Council of Europe stated in the 2012 Recommendation on the validation of non-formal education and informal learning. Hence, there's a need to create a clear system for recognising skills gained through non-formal programs, including legal and professional standards.
The implementation of civic education into the formal educational system is a topic that Gong, together with the GOOD Initiative, has been addressing for more than a decade. Gong emphasizes the necessity of making civic education a compulsory subject in all schools, rather than just an interdisciplinary topic. Moreover, it actively encourages and extends specialized support to local communities keen on embracing civic education as a separate subject, as a cross-curricular approach, and its content integrated into other subjects. Civil society organisations like Gong, CMS, and FSO provide training for educators to effectively convey their knowledge to students. Gong's educational efforts cover political literacy (topics include democracy, public policy and political systems) and media literacy (topics include media consumption habits, recognising disinformation, identifying gender stereotypes, as well as understanding the role of artificial intelligence in media).
To conclude, this recent analysis conducted by Gong highlights the importance of non-formal education as a valuable supplement to formal education in an individual's ongoing learning journey. It also emphasizes the critical need to integrate civic education into Croatia's formal education system through strong legal and professional structures. Gong remains committed to advocating for the systematic implementation of civic education, as research suggests it's essential for embodying democracy and its values in everyday life.
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