With support from the government, the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) this week commenced its community face to face discussions on government related issues with all walks of life in the Western Rural and Urban District. Held at the rural education district hall, Kossoh Town, NCD’s Western Area Commissioner, Benjamin Macfoy commended the school’s administration for the opportunity to engage pupils about their civic roles and responsibilities both at home and in school.
He added that civic education plays a vital role in shaping the lives of young children as they progressed into adulthood to become useful citizens, “but taking it off from the school curricula has greatly affected not only children but adult citizens who over the years have lost the good morals of discipline in civic education”. Commissioner Macfoy enlightened the pupils saying, with the reintroduction of civic education in schools pupils will once more know about their rights as citizens including their roles and responsibilities, which would lead to them desisting from exam malpractice and physical and virtual violence via social media.
“Civic education is about demonstrating patriotism and putting country above all else,” the Commissioner noted.
Senior Programs Officer, NCD, David Williams disclosed to the children that a flag post will be erected in the school compound to hoist the green, white and blue, which is a symbol of national unity, as they sing the national anthem and recite the national pledge every morning before classes. He told the children that most citizens do not even know the real colour of the national flag, or whether it should be horizontally or vertically placed.
“It is a shame on some of these citizens, which is a result of lack of civic education while growing up,” Williams said. The face to face engagements will continue across schools, with commercial bike riders, and at ‘ataya bases’ in Hastings and other communities in Western Rural and Urban.
By Ade Campbell