Teachers Civic Education and Their Methodological Skills Affect Student Engagement in Civic Participation

Abstract

Civic education is important, because the society needs people to contribute in the most effective way. The teacher plays an important role in encouraging pupils to civic actions. The aim of this study is find out the relationship between teachers civic education and their methodological skills in students civic participation. The statistical package of social sciences (SPSS 20) was used for data analysis. Questionnaires were administered to 34 teachers who give social education subject in 6th-9th grade and 414 students of these teachers, in Durres and Elbasan. The factorial analysis of the questionnaire on teachers civic education discovered two important factors: civic responsibility and civic values, while according to teachers’ methodological skills discovered three factors: the quality of the class, learning and student assessment. It was also observed that there is a positive relationship between teachers’ civic education and their methodological skills with students’ civic participation, which it was reported by teachers or perceived by students. There is a significant statistical relationship between teachers civic education and students civic participation: r = .40 (p <0:01), which is stronger than teachers methodological skills and students civic participation: r = .28 (p <0:01). According to the findings of this study should be increased teachers training programs at local and national level. A great importance should be given to civic education in the school curriculum and universities should recognize their responsibilities in preparing future teachers.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p336