Taking democracy to the classroom

© Brad Calkins – 123RF.com

The SDW, to be celebrated from 20 to 27 April 2015, is a joint project between the Electoral Commission and the Department of Basic Education to educate young people about democracy.

Electoral Commission spokesperson Kate Bapela said the SDW seeks to encourage, educate and empower learners to understand and participate in the democratic processes of the country and ultimately contribute to the deepening constitutional democracy.

"The Schools Democracy Week is a critical component of the Schools Democracy Programme, as it has the specific intention to increase youth participation in electoral democracy and to institutionalise electoral democracy content into the curriculum," said Bapela.

During the week, learners across the country will participate in a number of activities, including debates; presentations/demonstrations; Olympiads, a readerthon, roundtables; mock elections; role plays; democracy artwork; as well as democrazy - a democracy education board game.

Participating schools will also be supplied with the materials to enhance their electoral democracy knowledge.

Some of the material includes voting station layout posters per school, Not Too Young booklets for the general education and training band; Becoming a Good Citizen booklet for further education and training band; How to Register to Vote for Youth pamphlets, dummy ballot papers, voting booths and ballot boxes.

"Some of the material is also available on the Electoral Commission's website. The two booklets, Not Too Young and Becoming a Good Citizen, are also available in Braille," Bapela said.

The first Schools Democracy Week was held in 2013. The project will be rolled out in schools throughout South Africa.