Parliament has a duty to engage with schools to promote a thriving democracy
2 min read
Some of the most influential experiences in my life came not from being in Westminster for almost 40 years, but from my time as a teacher in the West of Scotland in the 1970s.
Often, the students I worked with had never left the local area unless they participated in a school trip.
Despite many improvements to education in recent decades, there are still too many instances where young people’s chances are limited by their socio-economic background. Not all schools or parents facing the cost-of-living crisis can afford, for example, a trip to London, meaning that lots of young people may never get the chance to visit Westminster.
The House of Commons and House of Lords should not simply encourage people to observe our proceedings from afar. As a national institution, we have a duty of service to the public, and an obligation to inform them about how our democracy works.
UK Parliament Week plays an important role in encouraging teachers and students to immerse themselves in democracy and gain a richer understanding of how the two Houses work. This week, Parliament will directly enter the classrooms of the almost two million people signed up to take part.
Our educational work has gathered momentum: in 2015, we opened the Education Centre on the Parliamentary Estate, which has since grown to welcome thousands of school children each year in a modern, fully equipped and immersive classroom setting. For almost five years when I was Senior Deputy Speaker, I spoke to at least one school there every Thursday morning.
This year, more than 70 of my Lords colleagues have spoken to over 26,000 young people through online sessions and in-person school visits. Over two-thirds of these pupils live outside London and the South-East. And every year we welcome 3,500 teachers to Parliament, introducing them to Parliamentarians from both Houses and all parties, and demonstrating the impact of our scrutiny and debate. In response, teachers would tell me their plans to modify their lesson plans to emphasise the work and value of Parliament. What they learn here goes straight back into their classrooms and enhances their pupils' understanding.
The key to our outreach is to highlight citizenship. Through initiatives like UK Parliament Week, we are giving young people the knowledge to become informed citizens who know the power of their voice, and eventually their vote. They can learn to articulate their opinions and take part in the national conversation. That is the essence of democracy.
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