In a world that’s more connected — and more divided — than ever, our children need more than academics. They need empathy, cultural awareness, and the courage to lead with purpose.
As an educator, curriculum designer, and third-culture adult, I’ve seen the impact of teaching beyond the textbook. That’s why I believe Global Citizenship Education isn’t just important, it’s essential.
We are educating children in a time of rapid global transformation. Cultures intersect daily. Millions migrate for safety or opportunity. Climate change, economic inequality, and political unrest ripple across borders. And yet, our education systems often remain confined to national curricula and outdated frameworks that overlook what students truly need: a sense of belonging in an interconnected world.
As a third-culture adult, bilingual educator, children’s yoga instructor, and curriculum designer, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when education speaks not only to the mind but to the heart. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) goes beyond academics — it nurtures the emotional, ethical, and social intelligence our children need to thrive in a world that is both diverse and deeply interconnected.
This article explores what global citizenship means today, where education falls short, and how we can reshape learning to support a more inclusive, just, and peaceful world.
What Is Global Citizenship Education?
Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is not a new concept, but it has never been more relevant. At its core, GCE is about preparing young people to:
Understand global issues and interdependence
Respect diverse cultures and perspectives
Think critically and ethically
Take action for sustainability, equity, and peace
According to Oxfam (2006), a global citizen is someone who:
Is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role in it
Respects and values diversity
Understands how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically and environmentally
Is outraged by social injustice
Participates in the community, from the local to the global
Is willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place
Global citizenship isn’t about dissolving national identities. It’s about recognizing our shared humanity.
Where Our Systems Fall Short
While the idea of global education is inspiring, implementing it faces real challenges. In the Netherlands, as in many countries, our systems are still catching up:
Outdated Curricula
Many teaching materials do not reflect the current global landscape. Schools often focus heavily on literacy and math while neglecting emotional learning, intercultural understanding, and real-world global issues.
One-Sided Worldviews
Education can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes. For example, children in the West may associate Africa solely with poverty or conflict, without seeing its diversity, resilience, or cultural richness (Ngozi, 2009).
Political Polarization & Fear of Change
As migration increases, some societies respond with fear rather than curiosity. In the Netherlands, tensions around multiculturalism and national identity still hinder efforts toward inclusion. According to CBS (2023), about 25% of the Dutch population has a migration background. But inclusion is about more than numbers — it’s about connection.
Inconsistent Teacher Training
Many educators are passionate about GCE but lack the training and resources to teach it meaningfully. Teachers need support to unlearn biases, facilitate difficult conversations, and create inclusive classrooms (NCDO & Utrecht University, 2009).
Global Inspiration: What We Can Learn from Other Countries
Across the world, countries are experimenting with how to bring global citizenship into the classroom:
- India revised its National Curriculum Framework to include democracy, gender equality, and social solidarity, while encouraging critical thinking and child-centered learning (Cappelle, Crippin & Lundgren, 2011).
- Canada funds global education centers and teacher training programs that emphasize equity, indigenous rights, and environmental justice.
- International Schools, like the American School of The Hague where I interned, foster student empathy, collaboration, and cultural awareness through diverse classrooms and inclusive pedagogy.
What unites these efforts is a shared understanding: global citizenship is not a single subject. It’s a mindset woven through everything students learn.
The Educator’s Role: Guiding, Connecting, Inspiring
As educators, we are more than information-givers. We are bridge-builders, helping children connect with themselves, each other, and the world.
Teachers can:
- Create safe spaces for questions, dialogue, and reflection
- Help students explore multiple perspectives
- Model empathy, openness, and curiosity
- Design interdisciplinary, real-world learning experiences
And importantly, we must examine our own worldviews. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.”
Global Citizenship Education invites us to complete the story, together.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The world our students are growing into will require more than memorization. They will need adaptability, emotional intelligence, cultural fluency, and courage.
To move forward, we need:
- A reimagined curriculum that embeds global citizenship in every subject
- Investment in teacher training and cross-cultural collaboration
- School cultures that reflect democratic values, inclusion, and sustainability
- Platforms for teachers to share resources and challenges globally
It’s not enough to teach children about the world. We must empower them to shape it.
A Call to Action
We are not just preparing students for a test — we are preparing them for life. Global Citizenship Education is a compass that can guide us toward a more compassionate, connected, and conscious future.
Let us raise a generation of learners who can bridge divides, act with empathy, and lead with purpose. Let us begin, not with fear of change, but with a shared belief in the power of education to unite us all.
References
- Oxfam Development Education Programme. (2006). Education for Global Citizenship: A Guide for Schools.
- Ngozi Adichie, C. (2009). The Danger of a Single Story [Video]. YouTube.
- CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek). (2023). Bevolking met migratieachtergrond.
- NCDO and Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geoscience. (2009). Windows on the World: Canon for Global Citizenship.
- Cappelle, G., Crippin, G., & Lundgren, U. (2011). World Citizenship Education and Teacher Training in a Global Context.
- National Council for Teacher Education (New Delhi). (2009). National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education.