The project focuses on development of critical thinking in schools mainly in smaller cities and outside the Bratislava region.
At least 40 teachers will be involved in the project – they will be trained and supported in using debate methodology during regular lessons and in after school classes. Instructors will provide them with online consultations and class visits so they can further improve their skills in critical thinking training. Each teacher will reach about 60 of his students yearly in their teaching practise during lessons (2400 students involved in total) and about 20 of his students in after school classes (800 students involved in total).
The project will provide a training programme consisting of 4 pillars. The first pillar will be a methodological manual on critical thinking training, which will contain, among other things, sample lessons and exercises on various human rights topics that teachers will use in their classes or seminars. The second pillar will be a training session where they will get acquainted with the basics of the debating method and learn how to work with the method manual. The third pillar will be to support teachers in implementing the methodology in the classroom and in their work with young people in after-school clubs. For this purpose, trainers will provide online consultations and visitations in each participating school. The fourth pillar of the program will be a training session where, in addition to training in advanced methodology, there will be space to share experiences and develop the participating teachers' own lesson plans. This training session should also serve as a networking opportunity for teachers who will share their working materials, exercises and experiences.
Critical thinking training will touch upon all topics related to human rights, therefore all policy markers can be considered relevant.