May 8, 2009

Two of the latest reports into civics education, The University of Sydney’s Youth Electoral Study (YES) report and the University of Western Sydney’s Whitlam Institute report, demonstrate how poorly politics and civics are still taught in Australian schools. This is despite the millions of dollars spent by governments on civics education resources in recent years. Mrs Kerry Jones, The Executive Director of CEFA, responded to the reports by stating “The reports highlight an urgent need for practical civics projects that engage students in democratic processes rather than those that just teach them from text books”.

The Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) School Parliaments are again proving the only way forward for teaching and learning political and civics subjects. The CEFA School Parliaments:

1. Help teachers and schools make the study of political and social subjects more interesting.
2. Encourage students to participate in exciting student elections, where they learn to value the power of their vote.
3. Offer training for the teachers in the Australian political processes, so they can be positive role models in political behaviour.
4. Empower families and local communities through participation in their school parliament, so they become politically aware.
5. Enhance the relevant curriculums so that the teaching processes are made relevant and exciting.

Mrs Jones added “we should not get disheartened by all these gloomy reports. CEFA is positive that through our practical projects creating School Parliaments, we are changing the way young people engage with politics to develop an informed and knowledgeable citizenry for the future. Let us hope all Australians, including the politicians, will get behind CEFA’s important work”.