The realities of civic education expectations and achievement across countries: The IEA Study

The TEA Civic Education Study, organized by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement in the Netherlands, has involved several hundred researcher from 24 nations in its Phase 1 (underway since 1994). Structured case studies were written in each nation based on data from interviews with experts, focus groups with teachers and/or students, and documentary analysis (including textbooks). These case studies deal with what the average 14 years old is expected or likely to have learned about eighteen topics including elections and other democratic institutions, national identity, international processes, and social diversity. In Phase 2 nationally representative samples of 14 year olds in 29 countries will be administered a test and survey which have been developed to measure the kinds of topics identified as important in Phase 1. This testing will take place between March 1999 and October 1999. This second of three panels in a symposium on Citizenship Education for the 21st Century will present an overview of the two phases, reflection on the content of the national case studies, information about plans to study the teachers within the schools where the 14 year olds will be tested, and detail about Phase 2. All the speakers are members of the International Steering Committee for the study.