Participation and co-responsibility as democratic principles in relation to the school

• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Schools - Aims and objectives; Civil rights - Study and teaching - South Africa; Democracy - Study and teaching - South Africa; Political participation - South Africa
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14262

M.Ed. === Democracy is the focal point of this discussion. South Africa is a new democracy and its success depends on the quality of the contribution that her citizens will make. Enthusiasm alone will not work, but if coupled with a knowledge about democratic principles, it can make a difference. This study focuses on participation and co-responsibility as democratic principles. The school is seen as a place where these principles can be taught in a systematic way. The problems which are therefore addressed in this dissertation are, whether children are sufficiently informed about participation and co-responsibility by the time they reach Std. 10 and whether there are any aspects with regard to these principles about which children have almost no knowledge.