Perceived School Characteristics Fostering Civic Engagement Among Adolescents in Italy

It has been widely argued that effective citizenship education should focus on more than mere teaching of civic knowledge, but provide a wider range opportunities for the experience participation and development skills, efficacy interest instrumental to active citizenship. Opportunities critical reflection such as open classroom discussions, fairness at school, institutional student school activities have linked political attitudes. The capacity students’ participative experiences, however, not explored empirically sufficiently. This paper aims identify contribution different characteristics attitudes their impact level in through mixed methods study. Questionnaire data collected two waves with 685 adolescents from Italy were analyzed structural equation modeling test effects Time 1 (democratic climate, reflection) 2, mediated by trust, interest. In order explore quantitative findings examine further perceptions aspects support involvement, group discussions conducted students secondary schools tracks.The results highlight importance involvement fostering interest, participation. Democratic climate was found trust efficacy, Students’ accounts schools’ need environment rises above information transmission inviting giving value institution.