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Schools must educate students about civic issues

An effective civic education teaches children about their rights and responsibilities as citizens as well as how government works.

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An effective civic education teaches children about their rights and responsibilities as citizens as well as how government works. Civic engagement stems directly from students' own experiences and ideas. "A good civic lesson should be student-driven," says Rivenburgh. A vibrant civic education programme should support students in learning to take action and to speak up. Teachers can play a great role in teaching civic issues in educational institutions. Children should engage in collaborative action research projects, where they investigate and address an issue relevant to their communities, enabling them to be problem-solvers. Educational leaders must take responsibility for instilling basic civic practices and virtues in their students immediately. They should enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. As a result, every student feels empowered to contribute to their community and their country.  

Kamaldeep Kaur

Start community clubs in schools

Civic issues or community issues are the backbone of every country and it is essential that children should understand its importance. So for this, educational institutions can make drastic efforts. Community clubs should be started in schools where compulsory participation of students should be there, making them realise its importance. Regular visits should be organised in the conflicting areas, and children should also be asked to make the analysis of the situation. Models followed by developed or other countries should be taught to them practically, in order to make it more effective. It is important to make the children understand the gravity of these civic issues as they are the future of the country. 

Neha Jindal 

Schools should create intentional civic spaces

There is incontrovertible evidence that schools can increase students' civic knowledge, engagement and identity through open classroom discussions and debates, simulations and other forms of experiential civic education, student participation in school governance, current events lessons, media literacy curricula, and policy-oriented service learning. Students also learn democratic skills and habits in response to school context. Schools can create intentional civic spaces that teach students how to interact respectfully and productively with students different from themselves, since this learning doesn't occur on its own.

Khushboo Singla

Workshops, seminars should be conducted

Education on civic issues is the need of the hour. These issues include all economical, religious and political problems faced by the community, for example, gap between rich and poor, discrimination, reservation quota, exploitation, corruption, environmental issues, and politically encouraged riots. Students in educational institutions should be made aware of these issues. Knowledge must be imparted to students by experts. Workshops and seminars should be conducted and practical training should be given in the event of uncertainty. Guest lectures can be also arranged on weekly or monthly basis. Suggestions must be invited on a given problem. Brainstorming should be encouraged. Camps should be arranged in schools and colleges. Rallies should be organised by students to create awareness among people. 

Ritu Priya 


NGOs should spread awareness

Human beings are considered as the most civilised and sensible creatures. The Earth can become a beautiful place to live if each one of us becomes a responsible citizen. Remember, if one generation created resources in the form of roads, parks, educational institutions and other infrastructural facilities, other must take care of all for the future generation. As a civilised society, we must maintain communal harmony, cleanliness of roads and public places and help in maintaining a law and order situation. Academic institutes must inculcate civic sense in its very basic form, starting from nursery class to university level to make children aware. It must be a part of their course curriculum. NGOs should take the responsibility to raise awareness of civic issues across all sections of society. State and local governments should co-operate with each other to organise workshops, street plays, seminars and other methods to make residents aware of civic issues and to preserve the natural resources of the city and the state. As human beings, we must think before parking our vehicles, blowing horns, driving fast than the permissible limit, throwing garbage in the open, smoking in public places etc. One should pledge to follow road safety rules and should not harm any public or private property and take care of under privileged section of society. NCC cadets and NSS volunteers should organise rallies to spread awareness among different sections of the society to keep the city clean and green. They should plant trees and sapling alongside the roads with the help of city residents. The local government should make it compulsory to plant one tree in front of each residence for each resident and he should nurture it. Each household should put the garbage only in the dustbins which may be provided by the corporation by charging its cost. It is concluded that one should take care of basic amenities provided by the local or state government and should lend support in keeping our city clean and green and taking care of roads, dams, parks and drinking water, electricity and other civic facilities. 

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui


Tell students about socio-political realities 

In order to impart skills or knowledge among children about civic issues, teachers often fail to explain what's going on. To create awareness among children about the ongoing civic issues, there is a need to connect the classroom environment with the social and political realities and controversial topics that takes place in the community every day. Teachers should pay attention to incorporate discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events in the classroom. Educational institutions should design and implement programmes that provide students with opportunities to apply what they learn through performing community service to find viable solutions that a community needs. Students should be encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities, in simulations of democratic processes and procedures. Develop and implement policies to provide information and resources that students need to understand and engage with the civic issues.

Ravi Chander Garg 


Teach students about universal brotherhood

Unlike other senses in a human body, civic sense is not inherited, it has to be nurtured and developed, first and foremost by parents, then by teachers in educational institutions. Most of us believe that civic sense is just about keeping roads, streets and public property clean. But this is not so. It is deeply related with one being law abiding, having respect for follow men and maintaining decorum in public places. But I am sorry to say that all these are found nowhere in our society. In schools, children meet other students from all backgrounds and teachers must encourage cordial relations among children. It will develop patience and tolerance in them. Children should be taught that progress is not moving ahead all alone, but progress is when we all move ahead together. They should also be given lessons on universal brotherhood as it will wipe out hatred for others from their minds. We, as adults and grownups, will have to change our mindset towards civic issues, only then we can have a new generation sensitised to civic issues. 

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi


Govt institues can contribute too

After home, educational institutions are the places where we all learn civic sense. Civic issues such as drive on left, respect parents, teachers, elders and help poor and live in peace and harmony are those issues which we learn in schools and follow during life. Similarly, there are several government administration such as police, Income Tax Department, health, forest and human rights can contribute to civic issues. However, these institues are doing their duty but they contribute better than this. A book dedicated to civic issues should be prepared and standard wise education can be given to children in schools and colleges. 

KL Babbar


Civic education important for democracy

Civic education is an established part of the curriculum in social studies.  The civic learning of students in schools is depend upon the substance, design, and manner of presentation of their lessons. Students' achievement of civic knowledge is related to the number of courses taken, the details of topics studied and the amount of time spent on lessons and homework. Student participation in extra-curricular activities is positively related to development of political efficacy and propensities for participation in civic life outside the school. The development of democratic civic values are enhanced by teachers, who provide lessons on the analysis of public issues . This helps students to understand how a government works and they can express their ideas on such topics. In conclusion, civic education in schools is important for the survival of our constitutional democracy.

Shubhangi 

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