Civic education is simply teaching people how to be good citizens.
Why Civic Education?
There are inadequate materials in schools across Papua New Guinea to teach human rights, democracy, how the government works and responsibility of citizens.
Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) believes that for young people to contribute meaningfully to the country, they need to understand their rights as citizens and how governance and laws are supposed to work. The young generation need to understand concepts of democracy, rule of law and be able to apply these in their communities.
The School Based Civic Education Project of TIPNG aims to create a generation of responsible citizens that work to ensure good governance at all levels of society.
The School Based Civic Education Project is producing materials to assist teachers and students:
- identify the functions and processes of civil society and state institutions and the way they contribute to national integrity;
- apply skills of active citizenship which model and promote democratic governance in their own community;
- interact with state institutions and demand for better
What we have produced for schools in Papua New Guinea
1.Civic Education in PNG Schools: Teacher Resource Book – contains teaching and learning concepts about democracy, human rights, and how the government works.
- Book of Background Readings for Teachers – is an information book for teachers.
- A Student Reader – containing short stories explaining key civics concepts.
- Big Books – large picture story books for teachers to read to primary school students.
- 5. Posters– large teaching posterson civic concepts such as conflict of interest, citizens’ rights.
- Android Phone Applications – users to engage in a game of ethical rationing and knowledge of PNG.
- Teacher Training – workshops for teachers on how to use the materials.
- 8. DVD – containing videos and sample lessons on civic education concepts.
These materials are targeted for primary and secondary schools, teacher colleges, police training school centres and vocational schools.
So what now?(where are we now with SBCE)
In June 2015, TIPNG and the National Department of Education (NDoE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formed the basis of a partnership between the two organizations to collaborate and bring civic education to schools in Papua New Guinea. TIPNG will continue to work with NDoE to ensure quality school-based civic education materials reach all our schools.
How can schools get involved in Civic Education?
If you have been looking for extra materials to help you teach students about governance issues, TIPNG’s school-based civic education materials are going to be very useful! Our civic education teacher training workshops have helped teachers to realize the suitability of these materials when used alongside other materials they already have.