Civic Education in Cyprus — Issues in Focus: A Curriculum Research Study

Abstract

This paper presents a curriculum research study aiming at investigating how citizenship in primary schools of Cyprus is constructed. First, the central issues, concepts and attitudes imported by civic education textbooks are identified and their relationship with the unresolved political problem of Cyprus is examined. Furthermore, the way in which civic education textbooks may affect the roles of the citizens is investigated. Content analysis of the civic education textbooks is performed on the basis of 12 factors which were the issues, concepts and institutions identified from the general aim of education in Cyprus as well as from the aims of civic education in primary schools. Findings are discussed in the light of the citizenship, social cohesion, conflict resolution and multiculturalism debate.