Education for citizenship and the teaching of democracy in schools. Final report, 22 September 1998

Abstract

The Young People's Parliament, Birmingham, (YPP) -Educating for Democracy -gives young people in Birmingham and the West Midlands a voice -whether on school, local quality of life or wider national issues; and on global concerns such as sustainable development and human rights.The initiative is a partnership between The University of the First Age, Birmingham City Council and the new centre for learning and leisure, Millennium Point.Already by using ICT, websites, video conferencing and e-mail, as well as use of the City's Council Chamber, the young people of Birmingham and beyond have been able to participate in two pilot projects.The General Election project in 1997 linked young people in the West Midlands directly with politicians and provided a lively and robust exchange of views.The first G8 Young People's Summit (YPS) was held in May 1998 to coincide with the G8 Summit meeting in Birmingham.Two youth delegates came from each of the G8 countries as well as the EU.A communiqué was drafted, mainly on the issues of third world debt relief, after a meeting with the Prime Minister.It made a powerful statement for the right of young people to be heard in international affairs.The Youth Parliament Competition is now in its eighth year, organised by the Citizenship Foundation and sponsored by Motorola.Each participating secondary school holds a mock parliamentary session of the pupils' own choosing.There are ministers and shadow ministers and a host of backbenchers on both sides.A twenty minute video of the debate is sent to regional judges and regional winners are then judged by a national panel.There is also a separate political writing competition.The national winners are invited to a presentation at the Houses of Parliament to receive their prizes and to meet senior politicians.The entry for this year's national winner (for the second time), St Michael's Roman Catholic School, Billingham, Cleveland, included Prime Minister's Questions and the pollution tax debate.The leading roles went to Year 11 students with Year 7 pupils providing the bulk of the backbenchers.Youth Parliaments -currently a large initiative is being developed by the Department for Education and Employment and the Department for the Environment, Transport and Regions, to hold a national Children's Parliament competition for primary schools, on local, regional and then national levels.The issues debated will be environmental and there will also be an essay competition.Youth Parliaments are also organised by the Council for Education in World Citizenship, which involve role-play and are based on an international problem (we saw one at Brighton on the international drugs trade).Key Stage 1 6.12 Key Stage 2 6.13 Key Stage 3 6.14

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