With the USAID "RADA: Next Generation" Program support, the Agency on Development of Educational Policy conducts an all-Ukrainian simulation game for high school students “M18: We are legislators!". During the game, the students imitate the work of the VRU Committees and elaborate draft laws to solve certain social problems.
In such a way, Ukrainian youth can learn in practice how the parliament works as well as its role in state policy formation. The development of parliamentary civic education is one of the key goals of the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program. Well-informed, responsible, and active youth is the basis of a stable democratic society.
At present time, the simulation game is being tested in centers of civic education, this is a network of 43 schools in different regions of Ukraine, developed within the framework of the Program. Later on, these developments will be used for parliamentary events at the Educational Center of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In order to prepare for the simulation game and improve its practices, meetings with Ukrainian MPs are taking place. The high school students will imitate the work of the VRU Committee on Education, Science and Innovation during the game. Therefore, they held the first meeting with Roman Hryshchuk, a member of this committee and the head of the subcommittee on life-long education and extracurricular education and adaptation of the legislation of Ukraine.
Mr Hryshchuk expressed his gratitude to the creators of this game. He pointed out its role in developing "critical thinking among the children and resistance to propaganda", as it is easier to oppose it when you know how parliament actually works.
The MP answered the numerous questions of schoolchildren and explained:
The event took place despite the air alert in some regions of Ukraine. The schoolchildren joined from safe shelters to ask their questions to MP. With such active and responsible youth, we are invincible!