Politically illiterate

Global problem

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." Winston Churchill

Some people, who have the power to vote, seem to know nothing about politics yet have a voice that is heard and a vote that can have drastic implications on the future of the planet. Too many people vote for ‘fashion’ politics in the West. Some women do not even know the difference between Left and Right (and women died for the right to vote). Too many people are too ignorant and too lazy to care. If we are forced, at a young age, to know the basics of politics and the significance of our votes, future generations may become more aware and more conscious of their place in the world.


Global solution

Teach and assess 15 year olds on the simple and currently relevant tenets of politics across three basic streams. 1) Political ideologies (Left / Right), 2) current world leaders of major economies (USA, UK, BRIC, Middle East) and 3) major political structures (democracy / autocracy) – this is not intended as a history lesson so communism is out, except in the case of China. Teenagers should be assessed by a simple multiple choice exam (30 mins, no more) and given a certificate if they pass. They should then be able to vote in local and National elections. And the ballot boxes should be at schools so teens get used to the process of voting. The actual vote will still be influenced by the usual factors (family, peer group etc) and teens will not necessarily have a strong opinion on the major issues underlying party policy. But a vote is as much about an ideological stand point as it is about policy.

By passing the exam and holding the certificate it demonstrates a fundamental understanding of current world politics and will give people this background for the rest of their lives as well as imparting the significance of this knowledge down the generations. This certificate will remove any form of alienation as there will be a consistent, Nationally mandated syllabus and exam – all people will have equal knowledge and be assessed on an equal basis. This will help prepare teens for the substantial exams they face later in their lives through being assessed and coping under pressure. This will give teens a Nationally recognised qualification to support applications to jobs and universities. This will force teens to become knowledgeable about things that do affect everyday life in our communities, our countries and across the world.