본 논고는 한국에서 민주시민교육이 어떤 주체에 의해서 어떠한 전달체계를 통해서 이루어지고 있는지를 규명하고, 전달체계의 개선을 통해서 효과적인 민주시민교육 방안을 법적․제도적 차원에서 모색해 보았다. 민주시민교육은 시민의 관심과 능력을 정치적 관계에 맞추도록 유도하고, 그들의 정치적 지식과 통찰력을 확대시키고 판단능력을 높이며 주어진 상황 하에서 정치적 참여를 촉진시키는 방향으로 이루어져야 한다. 전달체계의 분산으로 인한 문제점을 극복하기 다양한 주체가 한 자리에 모여 교육주체, 내용 및 방법 등 향후 민주시민교육의 방향에 대한 ‘최소한의 합의’를 이룰 때 이다. 민주시민교육의 제도화는 궁극적으로 독일의 연방정치교육원과 같이 민주시민교육 프로그램을 운영하는 시민ㆍ사회단체에 대한 통합적인 재정지원 기능을 수행함으로써, 현재와 같이 지원체계의 분산으로 인한 투입과 산출의 비효율성도 개선하게 될 것이다.

This paper examines the main agents for civic education and the system of transmission through which civic education is disseminated in Korea. In addition, proposals that may be effective for the education of citizens through the improvement of the transmission system are explored at the legal and institutional levels. Civic education must encourage the interest and capability of citizens to align with political parties, expand their political knowledge and insight, raise their ability to judge, and promote political participation under given circumstances. The main agents should come together to reach a "minimal consensus" with regard to the future direction of civic education, including primary agents, contents, and methods that could be used to overcome potential problems resulting from thediversification of the transmission system. It is expected that the institutionalization of civic education will ultimately fulfill the function of integrated financial support for citizens and social organizations that will provide civic education programs, such as Germany's Bundeszentrale fur Politische Bildung(federal agency for civic education).

This paper examines the main agents for civic education and the system of transmission through which civic education is disseminated in Korea. In addition, proposals that may be effective for the education of citizens through the improvement of the transmission system are explored at the legal and institutional levels. Civic education must encourage the interest and capability of citizens to align with political parties, expand their political knowledge and insight, raise their ability to judge, and promote political participation under given circumstances. The main agents should come together to reach a "minimal consensus" with regard to the future direction of civic education, including primary agents, contents, and methods that could be used to overcome potential problems resulting from thediversification of the transmission system. It is expected that the institutionalization of civic education will ultimately fulfill the function of integrated financial support for citizens and social organizations that will provide civic education programs, such as Germany's Bundeszentrale fur Politische Bildung(federal agency for civic education).

Civic education, Civility, NGO, Politic, Democracy