Active citizenship is the key to the deadlock
The idea of active citizenship covers everything from street clean-up campaigns to educating young people about democratic values. Active citizens are the role models on which social progress depends, especially in democracies like Thailand.
In Hungary, research in schools by the Kurt Lewin Foundation found that educational efforts are failing to bolster active citizenship among the younger generation. The foundation responded by launching an educational project titled “Active Citizenship Can Change Your Country for the Better”.
Active citizenship is a combination of knowledge, attitude, skills and actions that aims to contribute to building and maintaining a democratic society. The idea is to foster democratic cooperation based on the acceptance of universal human rights, the rule of law and tolerance of diversity. We develop this knowledge and associated skills at all levels of our shared social life, but schools have an especially important role in laying its foundations.
It’s time the Thai government increased efforts to foster active citizens, employing educational policy and key performance indicators at all levels. Active citizenship has a crucial role to play in Thailand’s current political situation, where citizens should be investigating possible solutions to our problems.
Danuvas Sagarik
