Civic Learning for Alienated, Disaffected and Disadvantaged Students : Barriers, Issues and Lessons

In their journeys to engaged citizenship, civic education is a right for all students, helping them to become active and informed. However, for some students, there are barriers to engagement. It is these barriers that are dealt with in this book.

Civic education is a key component of the school curriculum irrespective of country and political system. Ensuring that young people understand the political and social contexts of their country, and indeed their planet, is a key requirement in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world. Providing access to civic learning, therefore, is a priority for schools and the societies in which they are embedded. Yet, for some students, barriers exist which prevent a deep understanding of the requirements for full participation and engagement. These students are neglected not only in schools but in research as well. This book seeks to fill that gap by shining a light on the multiple disadvantages that many students suffer in seeking to exercise their rights as active and informed citizens.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Educational Psychology.

Xiaoxue Kuang is Lecturer at Dongguan University of Technology, China. She was formerly at the Assessment Research Centre, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Jinxin Zhu is Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China. He was formerly affiliated to the Assessment Research Centre, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Kerry J. Kennedy is Emeritus Professor at The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.