The Electoral Commission (IEC) Western Cape will officially launch Schools Democracy Week (SDW) at Gardens Commercial High School on Thursday 16 April, kicking off a year-long Schools Democracy Programme (SDP).

The programme is aimed at promoting democratic values and active citizenship among learners ahead of this year’s Local Government Elections.

An election must be held within 90 days after the end of a municipal council’s term, which is calculated from the day after the last general elections which were held on 1 November 2021.

On that basis, the next elections must take place between 2 November this year and 30 January next year.

The programme is a collaborative initiative with the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) that integrates democracy education into the school curriculum through Life Orientation classes.

It includes activities such as Learner Representative Council (LRC) elections, mock elections, and the use of IEC materials to provide learners with a practical understanding of electoral processes.

The event will bring together learners, teachers, and key stakeholders to encourage youth participation and strengthen collaboration between the IEC and the education sector.

The event will start at 11:00 until 13:00.

READ ALSO: IEC strengthens election readiness in Western Cape ahead of local polls