Young
People's View on Civic Education
By Ethel Sillah
|
Independent Observer
December 16, 2005
"Young people in the country have little
or no idea on civic education," said Ramata
Fofanah of the Voice of Youth radio programme.
According to Salifu Koroma, a young producer at
the Voice of Youth, citizens should be well taught
the meaning of civic education and their rights.
The primary target should be young people as we
are the most affected and vulnerable.
In an interview with Samuel
John, President of the Peace Pal School Initiative,
he maintained that civic education should be
in school curriculum noting that children will
then know more about their civic rights. "Young
people grow interest for something that is interesting
in learning therefore, we need to know about
civic education as we will have to practice
it and I think the class room is the ideal place
and starting point.”
Kadiatu Mansaray of the Freetown
Secondary School for Girls suggested that long
before elections young people should be abreast
with the meaning of civic education as youths
pass on messages quickly and effectively. Voice
of Youth reporter Mohamed Sesay in a vox pop
gathered that, “Seventy percent of our
young populace has little or no idea of civic
education as these young people put it.”
"Honestly, I have been
hearing the word civic education but with no
knowledge of the meaning. Now that I have learnt
the meaning, I am very grateful and will tease
my friends with the question," said Simeon
Sakomboh of the Government Model Secondary School
on Berry Street. "I thought that Civic
Education was the education of citizens in a
country. I am happy to know the exact meaning,
remarked Mariama Conteh of St. Joseph's Convent
School in Brookfields.
As the 2007 Parliamentary
and Presidential elections are round the corner,
Voice of Youth is calling on the National Electoral
Commission to engage in a massive campaign on
civic education both outdoors and on the media.
to
top
