This is also reflected in the International Study on Civic and Citizenship Education, published just a year ago, wich reveals, such as, that only 34% of Spanish students receive information on how laws are created and changed.and only 46% acknowledge having received training on how citizens’ rights are protected.
Lack of knowledge among younger people about how the parliamentary system works was one of the concerns that emerged Francisco Manuel García, professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Murcia in this adventure, which today boasts of having managed – together with the Ministry of Education – to make progress in the Secondary Education curriculum in the Region of Murcia,the first optional subject of the Spanish Constitution and the European Union. “I’ve met people who turn 18 and don’t know how to vote on the procedure,” shouts the professor in conversation with this newspaper. As 2017, the UMU Faculty of Law has been organizing “constitutional olympics”, which allow people to learn about the values of the Magna Carta.it would be in 2023 when, with the impetus of the Ministry of Education, it would become a reality, a subject. Today in the region there are 400 students attending this optional curriculum. To do this, Francisco manuel coordinates in the Constitution Chair the contents that the Constitution professors will subsequently teach. As he explains, the subject was conceived “with scrupulous respect for the student’s right to freedom and with respect for the neutrality of public powers”, he states.
LA RAZÓN spoke with one of the first “professors of the Constitution” in Spain Ana belén Vicente, professor of the IES Pedro Peñalver of El Algar (Cartagena). He exudes enthusiasm as he recounts the hours he spends with his students to whom he explains basic concepts such as what “consent” is. “It’s a subject as important as mathematics, we all had to know our supreme law,” he says. He explains that his school had already worked on the “Nostos” project, created by director Miguel García Córdoba, who had already paved the way for the creation of this type of transversal content by previously addressing issues related to the Constitution or the European Charter. Union.At school they perceived the ”loss of general culture” that they perceive in adolescents.The “enthusiasm” with which the theme was welcomed in a town where the majority are children of agricultural workers and where 40% of the students are North African stands out.The high quorum of the subject in his school stands out, where almost a third chose it over other optional subjects such as Digitalisation. There are no official data, according to the ministry, but the University assures that it has “made its way” and competes with other strong elective courses such as Robotics.
And what do students want to know about Ana Belén? His 14- to 15-year-old students were “shocked” to hear the teacher talk about ETA. “it’s the big unknown for them,” he says.“They didn’t know what a dictatorship was either,” he admits. They weren’t even clear what the word “consent” meant and she herself introduced the word “amnesty” when talking about the transition and the 1977 law. Ana Belén appreciates the fact that he didn’t like the meaning. “They considered it unfair.” He also spoke about Crown Title II. Regarding the figure of the King, his students did not understand «why he does not govern and what his function is. They told me that ‘the King does nothing'”,he says. His students do not have a good image of politicians. “When we talk about political plurality in the Constitution, it gives a bad general image and it is not because of ideologies.” They are all the same”, they told me one day when they saw a news story about DANA in Valencia.
The Community of Madrid is currently teaching content on the Constitution. The Ministry of education has proposed a “constitutional word of mouth” to schools, recreating a parliamentary debate or drawing a comic, among other activities. Ana Ortega Ruiz, director of the Ortega y Gasset public school, shows this newspaper some of the activities they have carried out in recent days in her center with children from nursery and primary school. Highlights children’s concern for the equality of people, the right to housing, the surroundings or the duties of citizensas can be reflected in the images of the comics provided by the Madrid public school. In recent days the children have addressed these topics together with their teachers. Comment on the good acceptance of the lessons by the students.
Andalusia or Castile-La Mancha also have a specific curriculum. In Galicia there is also a specific curriculum in which adapted contents on the topic are addressed in both primary and secondary school and in the baccalaureate. The Galician Ministry of Education explains that students work in class on topics such as “children’s rights, equality or coexistence”. In more advanced stages, through subjects such as Geography and History, students are taught civic and ethical values. Furthermore,in Ideology,History of the Contemporary World or History of Spain,teachers address topics such as “the analysis of democratic systems and the constitutional principles that regulate community life,as well as duties and rights,the functioning of the rule of law and its institutions,the democratic legacy of the 1978 Constitution as the foundation of our coexistence and guarantee of our rights and freedoms”,they state. This week, though, the educational centers have organized specific activities.
What initiatives are being implemented to improve civic education in Spanish schools?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Francisco Manuel García,professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Murcia
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Professor García, and thank you for joining us today. Your work in reforming the education curriculum in the region of Murcia is quite groundbreaking. Can you start by giving us an overview of the current state of civic education among young people in Spain?
Francisco Manuel garcía: Good afternoon! Thank you for having me. The current state of civic education in Spain, particularly among younger students, is concerning. According to the international Study on Civic and Citizenship education, only 34% of Spanish students learn about how laws are created and changed. Even more alarming, just 46% acknowledge having received training on their rights as citizens. This lack of knowledge can have far-reaching consequences for our democracy.
Time.news Editor: That’s an alarming statistic. you’ve taken critically important steps to address this issue thru the introduction of the optional subject on the Spanish Constitution and the European Union in the Secondary Education curriculum. Could you tell us what motivated you to push for this change?
Francisco Manuel García: Absolutely. My motivation stems from witnessing firsthand the gap in knowledge among young people regarding our parliamentary system. I’ve interacted with individuals who turned 18 and didn’t know how to vote or the processes behind it. This realization compelled me to work alongside the Ministry of Education to create a curriculum that could bridge this gap. The subject was designed with a rigorous respect for the student’s right to freedom and the neutrality of public powers.
Time.news Editor: It certainly sounds like a necessary initiative. I understand that you coordinate the content to be taught by Constitution professors. What is the response from students so far, and how many are currently enrolled in this curriculum?
Francisco Manuel garcía: The response has been overwhelmingly positive! Currently, we have around 400 students enrolled in this optional curriculum. The enthusiasm I see in the classroom reinforces the importance of this education. Students are eager to learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens—basic concepts such as consent and democratic participation have sparked their interest.
Time.news Editor: It’s inspiring to hear that students are engaged. You also mentioned something called “constitutional olympics.” Could you explain what that entails and how it fits into your broader educational goals?
Francisco Manuel García: Certainly! The “constitutional olympics” is an initiative we started in 2017 at the UMU Faculty of Law. It’s designed as an interactive competition where students can learn about the values enshrined in the Constitution while enjoying a friendly contest. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding of constitutional law in a fun way, encouraging students to participate actively in civic education and thereby prepare them for their roles as informed citizens.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like a fantastic way to engage students! Speaking with one of the first professors of this new subject, Ana Belén Vicente, she emphasized the importance of this knowledge, comparing it to subjects like mathematics. How do you envision the long-term impact of such courses on students and society as a whole?
Francisco Manuel García: I absolutely agree with Professor Vicente. Understanding the Constitution is essential for every citizen. I envision that,in the long term,courses like this will empower young people to become informed voters and active participants in democracy. As these students grow into adulthood, we hope to see a generation that values civic obligation, understands their rights, and participates more robustly in the democratic process.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Professor García. Your insights highlight the crucial link between education and active citizenship. We appreciate your efforts in shaping the civic landscape in Spain. Before we conclude,is there anything else you would like to add?
Francisco manuel García: Thank you for having me. I just want to stress that education is the bedrock of a healthy democracy. By equipping our youth with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities, we’re not just teaching them about the Constitution—we’re preparing the next generation to uphold and strengthen our democratic values.
Time.news Editor: An inspiring note to end on. Thank you once again, Professor García, for your time and your commitment to advancing civic education in Spain.
Francisco Manuel García: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.