Strengthening teachers' skills in civic and parliamentary education

With the support of USAID "RADA: Next Generation" Program, the Agency for Educational Policy Development conducted two-day trainings for school teachers. The participants discussed parliamentary civic education issues and conducted an all-Ukrainian simulation game for high school students called "Y18: We Are Lawmakers!"

During this game, students imitate the work of the Verkhovna Rada committees and develop bills to address specific social issues. In this way, Ukrainian youth can learn how the Parliament works and its role in forming state policy.

This game is being tested in civic education centers (a network of 43 schools in different regions of Ukraine supported by the "RADA: Next Generation" Program). Coordinators of these centers took part in training, during which they:

• identified the most common political ideologies and the definition of "politics";
• analyzed the different stages of the legislative procedure;
• modeled the process of creating and signing an electronic petition, holding a VRU committee meeting, and drafting a bill;
• practiced group work methods, reflection, and working with online sources.

After testing this game in schools, the Educational Center of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine could use this format for teaching young people.

The development of parliamentary civic education is one of the main objectives of the "RADA: Next Generation" Program. Informed, responsible, and active youth is the foundation of a sustainable democratic society.