SIDA is proud to share our recent op-ed in The National, promoting our open letter that calls on all political leaders in Scotland to make Global Citizenship Education (GCE) central to their manifestos ahead of the 2026 elections.
Written by Charlotte Dwyer, Co-Chair of SIDA’s Global Citizenship Education Committee, the article underscores the urgent need for GCE to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and values to respond to escalating local and global challenges, helping to build a fairer Scotland and a more just world.
The open letter highlights the urgent crises facing our world, from climate change and inequality to conflict and migration, and the vital need for education to equip young people and communities with the knowledge, skills, and values to respond. In the run up to the Holyrood elections, it urges all political leaders in Scotland to act boldly to ensure that Scotland not only talks about being a “good global citizen” but delivers on it through action in schools, communities, and government policy.
Read and sign the letter here – Global Citizenship Education – Open Letter – Scotland’s International Development Alliance
What is Global Citizenship Education?
GCE helps learners connect their lives to people and communities worldwide, promoting justice, peace, sustainability, and empathy. It encourages young people to:
- Take part in democracy and speak up for justice
- Understand global challenges like climate change, migration, and conflict
- Recognise and challenge racism, inequality, and colonial legacies
- Promote peace and intercultural understanding in their communities
- Think critically, ask big questions, and act ethically
By embedding GCE throughout education and community life, Scotland can nurture informed, empowered, and globally-minded citizens ready to tackle local and global challenges.
Our Call to Action
The op-ed asks political parties to:
- Recognise GCE across government and make it a policy priority
- Embed global citizenship and anti-racist education throughout the curriculum
- Invest in Development Education Centres and support teachers, youth workers, and community educators
- Strengthen joined-up thinking across public policy to guide just and sustainable action
We invite everyone in our network including NGOs, charities, schools, youth groups, diaspora communities, and individuals to read the op-ed, share it, and help amplify this call. By joining this movement, we can help ensure that learners in Scotland are prepared to understand the world, act with compassion, and lead change for a fairer, more inclusive, and globally responsible Scotland.