Education for Citizenship

Education for Sustainable Development also includes making learners aware of their role as 'Active Citizens'. Studies of 'citizenship' are intended to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for effective and democratic participation. It helps learners become informed, active citizens who have the confidence and conviction to work together to take action in their communities.

It is important to know about rights, responsibilities, duties and freedoms and about laws, justice and democracy. Citizenship encourages respect for different national, religious and ethnic identities.

For the Blogprompt this week first we want you to do a bit of research.

Find out

The constituency in which you live
Your local MP (name, party)
The name of your local council
Which political party dominates your local council

Secondly

2010 is election year.
What is your attitude concerning people who are not planning to vote in the general election?
What main concerns do you have that may influence your vote?

My Constituency: Northampton North
Local MP: Ms Sally Keeble, Labour
Local Council: Northampton Borough Council
Political party that dominates Northampton Borough Council:
Liberal Democrats, 24 members (Dominant)
Conservative, 15 members
Labour, 5 members
Independent, 3 members

My attitude towards people that are deciding against voting is largely negative in the sense that a lot of people feel privileged and honoured to vote and others couldn't care less. Voting is a very important aspect of society in that the leadership that is selected determines the future of the country and inevitably policies on areas such as education, health and sustainability. People that are deciding against the vote may not be entirely acting as a citizen within society for various reasons, and therefore they are unaware of the issues around them. In this instance I think it is probably right for socially impaired people not to vote as they don't exactly know what they are voting for. It just seems a shame when people such as Emmeline Pankhurst fort so hard for the right of female voters and nowadays people decide against voting.
When I place my vote I will be looking into party's agendas on areas such as transport as being a student transport is essential for me to get back home. I would like the new government to implement new infrastructure that will revolutionise the way we travel, in a new less-environmental damaging way. An absolute definite is the healthcare system as there is continuous problems portrayed in the news that beggar belief in many cases. The current economic upheaval is something that I would like new guidance on, as the current government seem to have got us into this mess with little recovery a few years on.