The DESC project aimed to enhance life and citizenship competences in public education by integrating practices from democratic schools. It pursued four main objectives: producing a cross-national research report on democratic education; providing teachers with training and resources; strengthening ties between schools and communities; and delivering policy recommendations to promote democratic education at national and European levels. An equally important achievement was the creation of a European network linking public and democratic schools, fostering ongoing exchange and collaboration across different educational contexts.
The DESC project was launched to address a growing need in European education systems for more inclusive, participatory approaches that support both academic success and democratic citizenship. Traditional school models often overlook students’ well-being, motivation, and active involvement—factors essential for learning and personal development. DESC aimed to bridge the gap between democratic school practices and public education by transferring proven methodologies that promote student engagement, agency, and life competences. Public school teachers involved in the project expressed the need for better professional development in democratic education and support in designing curricula that foster inclusion and student agency. Many education systems still rely on top-down, content-heavy approaches that disengage learners and limit their capacity to participate meaningfully in school life. DESC responded by offering innovative pedagogical tools grounded in needs identified through cross-country research and by promoting structured dialogue between public and democratic schools. The project addressed these challenges at three levels—learner, school, and community—helping to build the foundation for more democratic eductation.