Education is critical when determining the levels of political participation you can expect from society. Enforcing these values through education at schools can positively affect political apathy. Younger students are beginner voters; however, they often have little practical knowledge of the political system. Good political education helps citizens see the need for political participation in a social environment. This type of education in schools is known as civic education. It involves providing knowledge and experience to students to enhance them with minimum understanding of why they need to participate politically. In such a school environment, political education helps to foster a better understanding of the local, state and national governance systems and their compositions. This attempt to increase political participation at schools helps boost democratic education. Fulfilling your political duties enhances democracy, and it is essential to indoctrinate young people while still in school.
Studies show it is true that political participation education helps to develop students’ knowledge of political education. This knowledge can propel them to become democratic citizens and improve political participation. Teaching the need for political participation can benefit a diverse political for both society and students. Learning about political participation involves the community’s political activities and tolerance. Instilling these values at a young age gives a wider variety for society or students as beginner voters. It helps promote the best ideas to be selected and mediate the community’s and students’ political aspirations. Political education in schools also benefits from renewing members of any existing political parties.
Political Socialization
Educating the citizenry about political participation is a form of socialization. This method helps provide them with a broad spectre of knowledge on political issues. Political socialization can begin at the student level and extend to older adults. This education is crucial to motivate citizens to improve their political knowledge, education, and participation. Socializing the citizenry into politics helps them develop a good and positive attitude towards the political norms and values in the system. The process of political socialization takes time. This political education requires students to be imparted with critical social importance. Schools and learning play a vital part but so do the political players in the country. Creating branches for the youth, social media campaigns and political education help to foster excitement in students to gain political knowledge. These tools help the socialization of students. When the young people become of voting age, they are then expected to be able to carry out their political duties actively. Having this knowledge will make the citizens willing to give their votes. These groups of society feel they are essential to the process of selecting the leaders of their country. Mass participation in a general election shows a high level of political awareness, especially from beginner voters.
Political Education at Schools
Schools can be the primary starting point for political education. A political education curriculum is not standard in schools, with most students only engaging with political knowledge at a University level. Countries that have implemented and given political education through school learning have seen increased rates of broad political knowledge amongst their citizens. From a young age, students can begin to open their eyes to the political system. Many schools argue that political education can come in many forms without directly being called a politics class. These groups say that civic education has a broad scope in social education. Subjects such as history bring awareness to important political events that happened in the past. This knowledge can be considered political education. Formalizing political education at schools has both positive and consistent effects on students as beginner voters in a free democratic environment.
Political education is also imparted to students through extra-curriculum clubs that allow them actively participate in politics through schools. After-school clubs such as debate, school newspaper and current affairs help to foster the essential qualities in students required to participate in politics. Combining these tools helps create a better future and understand the importance of political education. When a child is almost a teenager, their political education needs to increase. Teenagers are the closest to being beginner voters in the future political world. These individuals are often significant in number and have the power to sway an election in any direction. Therefore, political education for young adults is necessary to help them understand how important their voice is to democracy. Their inclusion in the political system will help them develop into social human beings. A socially connected society can adapt well to their duties and rights as citizens. This education will teach understanding and tolerance of diverse views, which is vital since, eventually, students will live in society.
What Causes Low Political Participation
Age
Younger citizens aged 18-24 are generally less inclined to participate in political activities. These groups of society often do not feel represented in the lawmaking chambers. This perception occurs because of the relatively insignificant number of young people within government positions. The young citizens, therefore, feel they have almost no chance of winning an election. These groups associate politics with the older generation making them numb to political participation.
Gender
Political spaces are predominantly filled by men, discouraging women from participating in political activities. There is little representation for this group, and this causes apathy among them.
Ethnicity
Marginalized ethnic groups are often apathetic to political activities. This section of society can feel that the democratic system employed doesn’t benefit them as the politicians only represent the majority’s interests.
Status
Low-income individuals are rarely represented in parliament, given the high cost of campaigning. These groups can shy away from political activities because of legislative issues and red tape.
