Education for Citizenship (Spain)
Encyclopedia
Education for Citizenship and Human Rights is the name of a school subject
designed for the last cycle of primary education
and all secondary education
in Spain
, introduced by the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
. This subject was born upon a recommendation of the Council of Europe
that states the necessity of education for citizenship
, in order to promote civic and human values. Conservative elements in Spain have opposed this subject especially the Catholic Church.
Several sectors as the conservative People's Party (Spain)
and progressive Movements of Pedagogical Renovation have opposed the introduction of this subject. Although outstanding leaders of the Catholic Church have been against it, labelling it as totalitarian, other sectors such as CEAPA (Spanish Confederation of Student's Parents) do not disapprove of EpC, understanding that the curriculum proposed by the government does not overflow the mere education of the most elementary human rights
. In some chartered catholic schools parents exist who have asked for the conscientious objection before the new subject. This group received high publicity, especially by the Spanish, but as of September 2007 only 80 students have been asked for conscientious objection. As of January 2009, the Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that attendance of the Education for Citizenship course will be mandatory for all students.
Course (education)
The very broad dictionary meaning of the word course is the act or action of moving in a path from point to point . There are multiple meanings for this word, some of which include: general line of orientation, a mode of action, part of a meal, a mode of action, and many more. This article focuses...
designed for the last cycle of primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and all secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, introduced by the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
. This subject was born upon a recommendation of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
that states the necessity of education for citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, in order to promote civic and human values. Conservative elements in Spain have opposed this subject especially the Catholic Church.
Several sectors as the conservative People's Party (Spain)
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
and progressive Movements of Pedagogical Renovation have opposed the introduction of this subject. Although outstanding leaders of the Catholic Church have been against it, labelling it as totalitarian, other sectors such as CEAPA (Spanish Confederation of Student's Parents) do not disapprove of EpC, understanding that the curriculum proposed by the government does not overflow the mere education of the most elementary human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. In some chartered catholic schools parents exist who have asked for the conscientious objection before the new subject. This group received high publicity, especially by the Spanish, but as of September 2007 only 80 students have been asked for conscientious objection. As of January 2009, the Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that attendance of the Education for Citizenship course will be mandatory for all students.