Civic education refers to the type of education which enables citizens to know their basic rights and responsibilities. Ignorance about it is one of the main reasons due to which our citizens are unaware of their role and responsibilities, about being a responsible and active citizen, as well as of their rights too. The prime and foremost objective of education is to provide the nation with such a citizenry, which by virtue of law abiding and contribution to collective good, could be able to strengthen political, social and economic foundations of the society. The role of civic education for the development of human societies has been historically proven and even today, those societies are far more strengthened and developed than others, who have inculcated a sense of responsibility, rule of law, tolerance, peaceful co-existence and volunteerism among their populace through civic education.
Nowadays Pakistani society is engulfed with different social, cultural, civic and political crisis. Violence, extremism, poverty, illiteracy, religious orthodoxy etc. are those major issues which are spoiling the roots of our beloved country, though youth of Pakistan cannot eliminate these crisis but they can still full fill their responsibility by being aware and raise their voice against it to some extent from time to time.
New political and social realities within and between states have led to an increased emphasis on civic education also in both emerging and established democracies in order to build and secure democracy. In our country, the creation of conditions more favorable to democracy has led to an increased emphasis on civic education for both leaders and the electorate. Civic education in a democratic society most assuredly needs to be concerned with promoting understanding of the ideals of democracy and a reasoned commitment to the values and principles of democracy.
SADIA ZAHEER
Lahore.
