ISKANDAR PUTERI: The state government is coming up with a special module on politics and nationhood for secondary school students following the lowering of the voting age to 18, says Norliza Noh.
The Johor education, information and communication committee chairman said that the module is currently being drafted by the state Information Department in collaboration with the state Education Department.
“We are drafting a suitable module for secondary school students to expose them to voting responsibilities and its significance.
“This is in line with the lowering of the voting age to 18 years old,” she told the state assembly here at Kota Iskandar yesterday.
She was responding to a question from Hahasrin Hashim (BN-Panti), who asked whether the state government has any special module for secondary school students on politics as the voting age has been lowered from 21 to 18.
Norliza added that the Dato’ Onn Institute will also be asked to collaborate with the state government to come up with a module.
The institute is under the portfolio of state youth, sports, entrepreneur development, cooperatives and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
“The involvement of the institute is important in the drafting of the module due to its experience and expertise in the area,” she said.
For now, students in secondary schools are taught about parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy through Kelab Malaysiaku, which is available in 73 schools statewide, she added.
“Students are also learning about the election process through the Election Academy.
“The state Information Department has conducted a total of 20 programmes and briefing sessions related to Undi18 for Form Six students and students at polytechnics and community colleges in Johor.
“The programmes were meant to provide information to them on their role as citizens in the formation of the government and the democratic system in Malaysia,” she said.
Norliza added that supporting material to expose students to democracy and the election process have also been distributed to secondary schools.
