Your Parliament Citizenship Debate

On 22nd January 2009 AQA hosted a debate in the House of Commons on the role of citizenship education and its importance to young people and the whole of British society. The debate followed the Your Parliament exhibition organised by Dods and the Parliamentary Education Service in Westminster Hall from June - September 2008. AQA sponsored Voting and Citizenship week during the exhibition and is the only awarding body to offer a full GCE A-level in Citizenship.

Janet Holloway, Assistant Director at AQA responsible for Citizenship specifications opened the debate, saying, "AQA has, for a long time, supported and promoted the development of courses focussing on the acquisition of active citizenship skills, a sense of community and the difference that individuals can make to our society and the world."

On the panel were children, schools and famillies committee chair, Barry Sheerman MP, fellow committee member and Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Paul Holmes MP, and Natascha Engel MP, who is chair of the all-party group on youth affairs. In a lively debate, the MPs discussed questions with the audience such as how to encourage more young people to participate in the democratic process and the importance of understanding global citizenship issues.

To listen to a podcast of the debate please click here.

Photos