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Election Commission and Education Ministry Join Forces to Bring Electoral Literacy to Schools
In a significant development, the Election Commission (EC) has forged a crucial partnership with the Union Education Ministry to impart electoral literacy in classrooms nationwide. The initiative solidified through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), is designed to instill voter education and electoral literacy into the core curriculum for students from grades 6 to 12. The goal is to empower the younger generation and prepare them for their inaugural voting experiences.
Under the terms of this MoU, the concept of “from classroom to polling stations” will serve as a guiding principle, bridging the gap between educational institutions and the electoral process. The EC envisions democracy rooms within senior secondary schools, where voter education materials and activities will be prominently featured.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will play a pivotal role in this endeavor by introducing and updating textbooks to incorporate content on electoral literacy. Additionally, the NCERT will provide guidance to state education boards and other educational bodies on the integration of this crucial knowledge.
Importantly, this integration of electoral literacy will extend beyond schools and encompass the curricular framework of colleges and universities, adapting to the diverse disciplines offered by higher education institutions.
The EC’s decision to embark on this educational journey is driven by concerns about low voter turnout, particularly among urban and youth demographics. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a significant number of eligible voters, approximately 29.7 crore out of 91 crore, abstained from casting their ballots. With an overall voting percentage of 67.4%, the EC has accepted this challenge and is determined to enhance participation in the electoral process.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stressed the importance of instilling a sense of responsibility and understanding about the role of a voter in a democracy from a young age. He emphasized the need to reach out to young voters, stating that when they turn 18 and gain the right to vote, they should be well-prepared, with knowledge about how to vote, whom to vote for, and the considerations to bear in mind. The partnership between the EC and the Education Ministry is a significant step toward addressing this critical need.