Politics resource launched for schools

A new online resource has been launched to help children become more engaged in politics.

The new You Decide website, launched by Education Scotland, includes materials for teachers to support political activity and literacy among school pupils, some of whom will be able to vote in the Scottish Parliament elections next year.

Researching and debating are among the skills to feature in the service.

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Alan Armstrong, School Years Director at Education Scotland, said: “It's important that our young people understand the democratic processes and how the people they elect, and who represent us at local councils and in parliaments both here and abroad, make important decisions that affect almost every aspect of their lives.”

The resource was welcomed by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), who campaigned for lowering the voting age.

Chair Jordan Linden MSYP said: “One of the key successes of the referendum, and a positive lesson going forward, is how schools, youth work and other educational institutions worked together with organisations like SYP to reach as many young people as possible.

“We believe this resource is big step forward in terms of increasing the capacity of our schools and teachers to start these conversations with young people at a much earlier stage.”

Political literacy for children and young people is linked to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and embedded in the cross-curricular themes of global citizenship, learning for sustainability and interdisciplinary learning.