Title
Civil Education in Armenia: Possibility and Challenges in Implementation
Document Type
Open Access Capstone
Publication Date
2003
COinS
Comments
The reasons to undertake this analysis of Armenian civic education were: a) the belief that the quality of civic education in any nation is an important factor in shaping the nations future, and therefore b) the conviction that the civic education and problems it addresses should be one of the most vital subjects taught in our schools and that it could become a highly effective instrument in the fostering of understanding among Armenian people; and c) my personal criticism that questions the value of civic education as it is now prescribed and taught in Armenian schools.
The purpose of the study is, through examining many pros and cons concerning the possibility of developing civic education in Armenia, to reach the conclusion that the widespread, dangerous trend of ignorance of civic education poses threats to the vitality of young democracy in Armenia, and therefore must be aggressively countered, for civic education is a powerful way to develop civil society by improving citizens' political culture and by cultivating the values of an open society.
Various arguments, favorable to democracy and civic education as a powerful input into the process of building a civilized and democratic society, are developed throughout the study. They are balanced by counterarguments against the possibility of implementing civic education in Armenia. These arguments are supported by analysis of the present socioeconomic conditions of the country, its political structure, and educational and cultural traditions that hamper the successful implementation of civic education.