The DEA (Development Education Association) has published a report presenting the findings of a public survey it commissioned, and that was carried out by Ipsos MORI. The study sought to guage the extent to which the UK public has had an opportunity to learn about global issues (both in-school and since leaving school).
It also sought to see how this might impact on attitudes towards global issues, as well as their level of interest in learning more or getting more actively involved.
Key report findings as follows:
- Global learning creates agency around climate change, reducing by half the proportion of people who feel that it is pointless to take personal action on this issue.
- Learning about global issues greatly increases the proportion of the public who support the principle of overseas aid.
- Ensuring that all schools offer global learning is vital if we are to nurture a socially responsible, outward-looking populace.
- Learning about global issues counteracts a widespread sense of discomfort about racial and religious difference.
- Regularly reading, listening to or watching media about global issues encourages an outward-looking attitude, and is a very important way for people to learn more about these issues. The media is by far the most important place for people to learn more about global issues outside of school.
- There is a very high level of public support for the idea that all members of society should have the opportunity to learn about global issues, with almost nine in ten (86%) of the British public agreeing that global learning in school is crucial if these issues are to be tackled in future, and over threequarters (76%) similarly agreeing about the importance of continuing to inform people about global issues after they leave school.
The paper is attached below.
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