CIVIC EDUCATION: A CONCEPT AND PRACTICE NEEDED IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Omer A. El-Garrai
Dr., Dhofar University, Oman, oelgarrai@du.edu.om

Abstract

This paper is explaining and analyzing the concept and practice of civic education. As education itself is considered by the paper as coping with the environment, civic education is needed to participate in solving some of the problems of our social environment in the Middle East. Civic education is a process that raises the awareness of people to achieve their rights and fulfil their obligations. It evolves around what we need to know and practice to be good citizens. To illustrate the meaning of the concept the paper conducts a vast review of the related literature.
This includes activities of institutions and organizations concerned with the issue.

In the Middle East people are suffering from civil wars, movements of terrorism, Fanatic Islamic Groups, lack of democracy, and grave violations of human rights. All these radical movements are targeting the youths.  The youths who refused to join these fanatic movements are spending their time in entertainments and pleasures. Introducing civic education whether in the schools and colleges or informally by raising the community awareness, would save both types of youths. The methodology of research adopted by the paper is a qualitative analytical approach which depends on secondary data to explain the concept and how it should be practiced.  Explaining the concept, the paper will discuss why we need it in the Middle East.  In conclusion the paper will suggest how to adopt civic education in our communities. Especially how to use it as a tool that helps us integrate our community, emphasize cooperation and respectful relationships among the members.

Keywords: Civic -Education-Social Environment-Community Awareness-Fanatic Groups