Education

The Council of Europe promotes and protects human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These principles have been cornerstones of European societies and political systems for decades, yet they need to be maintained and fostered, not least in times of economic and political crisis. Most people would agree that democracy means a form of governance by or on behalf of the people and that it cannot operate without institutions that ensure regular, free and fair elections, majority rule and government accountability. However, these institutions cannot function unless citizens themselves are active and committed to democratic values and attitudes. Education has a central role to play here and this Reference Framework supports education systems in the teaching, learning and assessment of competences for democratic culture and provides a coherent focus to the wide range of approaches used. This third volume offers guidance on how the model of competences and the corresponding descriptors, contained in volumes one and two respectively, may be used in six education contexts. The three volumes together therefore offer educators a reference and a toolbox for designing, implementing and evaluating educational interventions, in formal and non-formal settings.