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Description
In this project, we are developing the civic competences of students in vocational schools by strengthening the democratic function of student governments. These are one of the most important spaces for giving young people positive, personal experiences of active citizenship such as participating in elections, making laws and rules, influencing decisions affecting the school community and taking grassroots student action. When these procedures work, school students become familiar with democratic culture and learn it in action. Our project is needed because vocational schools'' students have fewer opportunities to develop civic competences compared to students in other types of secondary schools. According to a Centre''s for Public Opinion Research survey of 2018, 58% of vocational schools'' graduates describe their interest in politics as little or none. For high school graduates, it is 32%. The aim of the project is to develop a model of student government that allows for the development of democratic and civic skills in practice as well as the participation of all students in a given vocational school in democratic procedures. We want to implement this model in 6 vocational schools. Our partner is the Warmian-Masurian Teacher Training Centre in Elbląg.