While there is a large body of literature on citizenship and civic education, there is less clarity about the meaning of ‘responsible transformative engagement’ for young learners in relation to GCED and ESD – notably, the types of transformative engagement and the meaning of ‘responsible’. Understanding better the connection between learners’ engagement and education can clarify the knowledge, skills and competencies that schools may provide, as well as how the role of education can vary depending on context. In this light, this paper explores the meaning of ‘responsible transformative engagement’ with a view to clarifying the role of education in ways that may be reflected by UNESCO and other education stakeholders.