Citizenship Skills and the Role of Schools: The Civic Formation of the ‘Citizen’

This paper discusses the importance of citizenship skills in the integral formation of the citizen, highlighting the central role of schools as civic contexts. Over the last two decades, citizenship education has gained prominence in national and European educational policies, being seen as a tool to strengthen European identity and promote active participa tion in civic and social life. Schools are interpreted as the primary en vironment for acquiring civic competencies, combining formal and informal teaching to prepare young people to become conscious and responsible citizens. The need for a holistic approach that fosters inter cultural dialogue, respect for human rights, and sustainable devel opment is emphasized, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper also examines differences in civic education across various European countries and reflects on the contemporary challenges of citizenship education, including the importance of global competencies and the promotion of a just and inclusive citizenship.