Tuaran: Early exposure to fundamental political and democratic knowledge should be introduced to young people as early as their school years, particularly starting from upper secondary education.
Political analyst Jo-Anna Henley Rampas said early education, particularly one that provides exposure to the basics of politics, should begin at the school level.
Advertisement“This recommendation could be considered, for example, by introducing the subject of General Studies earlier, starting from Form 4, which is in upper secondary education. “This syllabus could include a specific subject to help young people understand political fundamentals or the current political landscape, especially in a democracy, and to shape competent future leaders.
“In my view, when we look at young people today, we realise that many of them tend to stay away from politics. We don’t know exactly why — whether it’s because they are not interested or because they lack exposure to political knowledge,” she said this when speaking to the Daily Express after an event held here on Sunday.
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“Why not implement a basic politics subject as part of the curriculum and SPM examinations? “The content taught in General Studies at the pre-university level could provide knowledge to young people, allowing them to gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of democracy. “I firmly believe that any positive change or step forward must be nurtured from an early stage, and for this issue, introducing a basic political education system is one of the steps that can be taken,” she said.
AdvertisementAccording to Jo-Anna, early exposure to political basics in school is crucial, especially for young voters who will be casting their ballots for the first time. They need to be equipped with knowledge so that they can make informed decisions.
She also noted that the advancement of technology had highlighted the role of social media as an interactive medium for disseminating and receiving information among young people.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“The reason for this, of course, is social media. If we observe, social media has become an integral part of daily life. This is what we call the phenomenon of ‘clicktivism,’ where users engage in online interactions by sharing posts, liking pages and so on.
“Social media users who frequently use the platform in their daily routines tend to gravitate towards issues that resonate with them. Because of this, they will click, like and share, further amplifying the reach and spread of the information — a phenomenon we call an ‘echo chamber.’ “The effect is that what they see repeatedly shapes their belief that the issue is true, reinforcing their opinions. This is how many young people end up being influenced by social media algorithms,” she explained.
Jo-Anna also emphasised that preparing future leaders requires proper readiness and preparation, particularly to lead Sabah towards greater potential and progress.
“The reason we need to focus on cultivating political awareness among young people is to ensure they are knowledgeable and prepared. “Young people in Sabah do want to learn about politics, but many are unsure of what or who to choose. “This is where we see the influence of parents and peers playing a role in the decisions made by young people,” she said.
Jo-Anna further shared that her research found that peer influence significantly contributes to the decision-making process of young voters, particularly in selecting leaders.
“For that reason, we must ensure that our young people — especially first-time voters who are now automatically registered under the Undi 18 policy — are shaped with the right knowledge and a healthy foundation in politics.
“We should start instilling the importance of political education as a preparation in our young before they participate in politics in the future,” she added.
Additionally, Jo-Anna urged local leaders to play their part in conveying political messages and information in a way that is easily understood by young people and the general public.
She stressed that effective communication is key to ensuring that information reaches and is understood by the grassroots.
“For example, when discussing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), we should simplify it and explain to the people, especially the younger generation, what it means and what our leaders are fighting for.
“We need to clearly explain the significance of the 40 per cent revenue entitlement to Sabah and the impact it would have on the people and the state. “If Sabah were to regain this 40 per cent, it would have a positive impact, providing more funds for the state and its citizens, allowing us to focus on our own development.
“In simple terms, effective communication is the key to engaging our youth — not just Gen Z but also Gen Alpha and future generations — who rely on digital technology for information and political awareness,” Jo-Anna said.