Students from 10 schools will study electoral education as optional subject
10 schools throughout the country will pilot a new optional subject in the academic year 2023-2024 – Electoral education. This initiative is conducted by the Center for Continuous Electoral Training (CCET), in partnership with UNDP, through the project “Enhancing democracy in Moldova through inclusive and transparent elections”, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and by the British Embassy in the Republic of Moldova.
The curriculum for the optional subject was developed in 2022 by CCET, in partnership with UNDP Moldova, being approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Thus, at least 220 students from 10 schools, to be selected at a later stage, will have basic knowledge in the electoral field, will know the responsibilities of the government, how to monitor the commitments taken by the elected officials, how the electoral candidates register in the competition, how to run an electoral campaign and take responsibilities of representation and public participation.
“Integrating electoral education in formal education will accelerate the process of strengthening democracy in Moldova, by forming generations of young people aware of the importance of civic participation and of the electoral process,” said Doina Bordeianu, CCET Director.
The handbook for the optional subject and the teacher’s guide are being developed.
Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, students from the 9th and/or 10th grades will have the possibility to choose this optional subject.
To promote this new subject, CCET will run a communication campaign, which will include information sessions at regional level, student debates, as well as training for teachers involved in piloting the subject.
In 2022, UNDP developed a study which recommends actions for forming a generation of young people civically engaged and involved in electoral processes and analyzes the international and regional practices in the field of electoral education and how the process of electoral education in the Republic of Moldova may be improved.