WORLD CITIZENSHIP AS AN HISTORICAL IMPERATIVE: SHOULD GLOBAL EDUCATION BE A COMPULSORY ELEMENT IN TEACHER TRAINING?

Abstract

The phenomenon of globalization is transforming the society. Society itself is becoming a global phenomenon, and its citizens world citizens. The process that took homo sapiens up the civilizational ladder, from clans of hunter‑gatherers to tribal societies, to city‑states and nation‑states, is now culminating in a global society C globalization is an historical imperative. Growing interdependence is forging the planet=s population into reluctant solidarity, painfully realizing that the Earth is one land and mankind its citizens. Empowering world citizens, through corresponding values and skills, as responsible members of the global society is, primarily, an educational quest C global education is at the core of social progress. And global education cannot become the norm unless teachers are up to the task; therefore it should be an inseparable and pivotal aspect of teacher training. Despite many promising experiments and projects, we are a long way from having global education accorded its rightful role.

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