Global Citizenship Education (GCE) promoted by UNESCO’s Education sector program is a means to support and encourage learners in developing skills, values, attitudes and knowledge that empower them to assume responsible and active roles to face challenges of the 21st Century. The target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals clearly explained that education is still a major and crucial challenge for the global community, societies or individual. Sustainable development, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, non-violence, peace, human right or gender equality cannot be achieve without changing the mentality or educating people. Improving the quality, access and relevance of education is therefore necessary to enables learners to transform themselves and the society while promoting universal shared values like peace, freedom, equality, human dignity, non-discrimination, respect and dialogue. The GCE, guided by the Education 2030 Agenda and Framework for Action, is finally a wide and long project based on education as a key in changing, transforming and building a better world for all.
According to me, Global Citizenship Education is very important and interesting nowadays because it is a shift in the purpose and role of education. We have now recognized with Mandela that “education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”.
With Globalization, our actions are no more having just a national or regional impact. We are now living in a global village where we have responsibilities to everyone. We must be belonging to a broader community and common humanity. GCE develops that global consciousness and competencies that will enable us to understand and resolve global issues in our sociocultural, environmental and economic environment. The great aim of education is not knowledge but action, then GCE allows learners to act effectively and responsibly at local, national and global levels for a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world.