Efforts of this sort have been undertaken in Europe, the United States and Canada. In Qu bec, the concept of the school's mission in citizenship education took shape as this culturally distinct North American society changed and opened up to the world. The development was marked by major examinations of the issues such as those of the Parent Commission, the Estates-General on Education and various task forces on curriculum reform, and is reflected in the policy statement, Qu bec Schools on Course. From now on, the school will have a duty to educate students to become citizens, aware of the issues facing their society and others, and of their responsibility to preserve democratic society and make the world a better place. Students have to learn to use their critical judgement and to contribute actively to the achievement of a world that is open to differences.
Citizenship education is education in the values of democracy, pluralism and social commitment.
Citizenship education is situated at the crossroads of the educational system's three missions, socialization, instruction and intellectual development, and qualification, since it is by educating well-rounded individuals that the school can claim to fulfill its role. Chapter three presents guidelines for citizenship education . In this chapter, the Conseil looks at how the educational system can prepare future citizens. Only through a combination of careful, consistent planning of relevant subject content, the use of appropriate teaching practices and the establishment of an educational environment that reinforces what is taught in class can citizenship education be expected to live up to the hopes that are placed in it. This strategy must be implemented at all levels - elementary and secondary education, vocational education, higher education and adult education.