JABARNEWS | PURWAKARTA – Politics is not just an adult affair, it needs to be studied by the younger generation, including high school students. After all, politics is closely related to our daily lives.
In education, for example, annual programs, learning facilities, and educational assistance (from scholarships to infrastructure) are the results of political decisions. Similarly, the prices of gasoline or diesel, public transportation fares, smooth highways, affordable internet, and widespread internet access are all influenced by political decisions discussed by the government and stakeholders.
Young people, especially those who have the right to vote, should not remain “politically illiterate.”
A German poet, Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), in his famous quote, said: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and, worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations”.
It is high time for the younger generation to learn as much as possible about politics and democracy, so they can understand how the government functions and how the political process works in Indonesia. This knowledge will help them grow into active citizens.
Understanding politics can increase young people’s interest in getting involved in the political sphere. Engagement doesn’t always have to be through political parties; it can be achieved through other means. For example, teenagers can actively participate in social movements or sign petitions related to socio-political issues. Currently, political movements are widely discussed on social media, which is a popular platform among the younger generation, including teenagers.
Equally important, political education should be accompanied by values of integrity, including an understanding of corruption and its impacts. This is crucial to convey, as these young individuals will inherit and carry forward fundamental ethical values, such as discerning right from wrong and understanding existing legal boundaries.
To enhance political literacy and introduce democratic values to teenagers, one school in Purwakarta Regency, West Java, Indonesia, held a Democracy Festival.
The school’s name is Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) Purwakarta, a state educational institution at the senior high school level.
MAN Purwakarta organized the Democracy Festival as part of its Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5). This event represents an innovative step to introduce students to the values of democracy.
