14 education professionals from the Republic of Moldova studied the cross-curricular approach to the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture and its implications for teaching and learning in Swiss schools, during a study visit to Switzerland, organised by the Council of Europe Project “Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova”.
The Moldovan experts and their colleagues from the Zurich University of Teacher Education discussed and analysed the recent developments in our societies and consequences for learning needs and the importance of competence-based curricula. The participants examined the Swiss model of integrated culture of democracy in schools and shared the experience of the Republic of Moldova in implementing the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.
The participants visited a Swiss school in the canton of Zurich and experienced themselves as observers the elements of implemented democratic citizenship education. They had the opportunity to discuss the principles of school governance in Switzerland with the teachers and principals.
“Switzerland has a unique education system and cross-curricular approach to the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture. The visit to the school in the village of Niederweningen was a truly enriching experience for my professional life. I will share the knowledge acquired during the study visit with my colleagues and peers”, Diana Galanton, Deputy Director of Mihai Eminescu High School (Balti), confessed.
The Moldovan delegation also visited the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg. The participants met with staff from the Education Department and discussed the Council of Europe education policies related to the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture, the experience of Andorra in implementing the RFCDC, and the Council of Europe Digital Citizenship Education initiatives.
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The project „Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova” is implemented by the Council of Europe and is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the framework of “Moldova: Fostering Active Civic Engagement” Programme.