The study presented here was commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank for discussion during the workshop “Education for Citizenship and Democracy in the Americas: An Agenda for Action.” The workshop was held in the framework of the Fourth Meeting of Education Ministers of the hemisphere in Trinidad and Tobago. The recommendations that emerged from this meeting are included in the preparations for the Fourth Summit of the Americas which was held in Argentina in November 2005.
This report analyzes alternatives for changing from civic education to citizenship education through schooling that incorporates citizenship at every level. It must redefine pedagogy to combine traditional academic elements with debates and community service experiences in a school environment that favors relationships of trust and mutual recognition. Emphasis is placed on evaluations that make their objectives visible. Such evaluations must measure progress and adjust policies at the macro level as well as the activities of teachers and educational institutions at the micro level.
