An informed electorate: the need for improved political education in schools

By Phoebe Lloyd, former Unlock Democracy intern

As the franchise is extended to 16 year olds, now is the time for decisive action to improve political education. 

34% of 16-17 year olds feel ill-equipped to participate in politics, citing a lack of education and understanding. Considering that they will be voting in the next General Election, it is striking how poorly prepared young people are. 

As found by the Electoral Commission, only a third of those 11-17 have heard about politics from their school over the past year. Moreover, with 72% of 11-25 year olds wanting to learn more, it is clear that a new strategy to promote political literacy among young people is needed. 

If schools fail to educate young people, then they are likely to turn to social media as an alternative, which is a proven source of misinformation and harmful rhetoric. Improving political education in schools will: provide young people with the skill set to identify political misinformation, the confidence to vote and participate in politics, and finally reduce their dependence on social media for political information. It is time to act to ensure this reality.

Current political education

The provision of political education within schools is imperative, now more than ever. As young people prepare to vote in the next election, it is essential that they are provided with universal and unbiased political education. This will equip them not only with the literacy needed to vote, but also the skill set needed to identify and combat political misinformation. 

Schools have a duty to provide an unbiased political education, giving students the confidence to develop their own values in preparation for political participation. Not only this, but a system of universal political education helps to level the playing field, reducing inequality in political literacy.  However, the government must act to ensure that teachers have the training and resources to fulfil this.

Students in schools located in more affluent boroughs are significantly more likely to receive an education in politics. Moreover, those in private schools are twice as likely to have been prepared in school for voting in elections. When there is a clear link between political education and turnout, this helps to drive economic inequalities in participation, with turnout consistently lower in deprived constituencies. This two-tier system of political literacy cannot continue. All young people should be informed irrespective of background. 

This makes it essential that the Department for Education universalises a system of political education. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that all children, regardless of their school, are given the necessary skill set to participate in politics. 

Social media misinformation

Looking beyond voting, an education in political literacy can also help combat the impact of online misinformation. A report in 2022 found only 2% of children in the UK were able to identify whether information they have seen online is fake. When 75% of 16-24 year olds use social media as a news source, this is all the more alarming. 

As schools are not currently providing an adequate political education, it begs the question of where young people have been seeking out alternatives. It is clear from this research that social media has been the next port of call. Reiterating the need for government intervention. 

Considering that social media has become so ubiquitous, young people must have the skill set to discern what they are consuming. It is unlikely that in the digital age that social media will move away from being the primary source of information. However, through adequate media literacy and political education young people can be prepared to consume content mindfully, allowing them to identify content that is provocative and inaccurate. 

Not only will this improve political awareness, but education designed to help identify harmful content, will help reduce radicalisation. When young people have the power to respond to misinformation and form their own views, they are less receptive to misinformation online. Research from Indonesia shows that those with high levels of digital literacy are much less susceptible to propaganda. 

Therefore, it is evident that the impacts of quality political education could be far reaching. This goes beyond improving participation, also introducing a reduced risk of radicalisation and susceptibility to misinformation.  

Solutions

It is clear that now is the time for the government to take decisive action. In light of the vote being given to 16-17 year olds, the Department for Education must establish a clear strategy for political literacy, which isn’t just about voting.

It is essential that our young people have the necessary skillset to not only participate politically, but also to respond to growing misinformation online. The Electoral Commission currently offers resources for educators, providing  lesson plans on political literacy.  This isn’t enough.  The Department for Education must provide teacher training in political education, do more to ensure the burden doesn’t fall entirely on teachers, and create a universal framework for political education. 

National initiatives will reduce the two-tier system of political education by taking the burden off individual schools. This ensures that all young people are educated on our electoral system, the policies of different political parties, and finally how to identify and respond to misinformation online.

With this sound basis of understanding politics, young people will be better equipped to participate politically, raising engagement that will last a lifetime.