The neoliberal ideology is dramatically changing the field of education. By applying enterprise and market-oriented principles to education, neoliberalism has transformed the relation between students and educators. Educators see the precarization of their work conditions by increasing accountability because neoliberalism is based on the promise that education can be capitalized and result in better jobs. At the same time, citizens show high dissatisfaction with representative democracy. Citizens do not trust politicians and do not exercise their rights to vote in elections. Frustration with education, work, and focus on individualism and consumerism, lack of collective actions, absence of sense of community and apathy towards politics are all repercussions of neoliberalism. The purpose of this study is to find an inclusive framework that promotes critical citizenship education and participation. By analyzing the Participatory Budget model as it started in Porto Alegre, Brazil, we could see that the more people participate in direct democracy and see the results, the more they want to participate. From a study of the application of the Participatory Budget in schools, we learned that the more people learn how to participate, the more they participate. Through citizenship education and participation in deliberation and decision-making processes, people develop political critical awareness, increased sense of community and emancipation and this is a tremendous antidote to neoliberal policies. The tango between critical citizenship education and participation in deliberation and decision-making processes promotes social justice and develops a strong form of democracy where marginalized voices are heard and the status quo is challenged
