In an effort to strengthen young people's understanding of political parties and democratic participation in Fiji, the Fiji Elections Office, through its Institute of Democracy and Electoral Education, has launched a pilot programme for its Political Parties Youth Module.
Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa says the course is currently being piloted and remains in the development phase.
She says this course is still in its early stages, and youths participation and feedback will play an important role in shaping and improving it before it is rolled out more widely.
She adds that the course was developed with support from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), drawing on elements of its Youth Democracy Academy and other civic education resources.
The Supervisor says the module is designed to give participants a better understanding of the role political parties play in a representative democracy, how they operate, why they are important, and how citizens can engage with them in meaningful ways.
Mataiciwa says the Political Parties Youth Module is part of a broader civic education programme being developed by the FEO and IDEE.
She stresses that future modules will cover democracy and democratic principles, the Constitution of Fiji, elections and electoral processes, as well as local government and civic participation.
Mataiciwa says one of their key goals is to bridge the gap between what young people learn about civics in school and their participation in public life, whether as first-time voters, aspiring candidates, or active members of their communities.
She says the FEO is also exploring opportunities to establish structured learning pathways, including partnerships with higher education institutions to accredit these programmes in the future.
Mataiciwa encouraged participants to actively contribute throughout the pilot, noting that their feedback is essential to ensuring the course reflects the realities, needs, and expectations of young people in Fiji.
