Senior pupils from secondary schools across the Scottish Borders recently gained hands-on experience with local governance by participating in a Youth Mock Debate held within the Council Chambers.
The session was specifically designed to support young people's understanding of local democracy and democratic services, providing a valuable opportunity to build relationships, knowledge, and understanding of the Council's vital role and remit.
Local Democracy
The initiative provided pupils with real-world learning about how local decisions are made and aimed to achieve several key objectives:
- Democratic Education: To teach young people about how the Council works and how democratic processes operate.
- Civic Connection: To build meaningful connections between pupils, Council officers, and elected members.
- Participation Rights: To support young people’s rights to participate in line with UNCRC Article 12.
- Skill Development: To develop essential debating, critical thinking, and communication skills through active participation.
- Collaboration: To provide opportunities for meaningful cross-school collaboration and confidence-building.
The young debaters tackled two highly relevant and engaging motions, ‘Mobile Phones in Schools’ and ‘Nicotine Products’ presenting strong arguments, responding to questions, and engaging with staff and Councillors during a Q&A session.
Council Leader, Councillor Euan Jardine
“I was genuinely impressed by the commitment and maturity our young people brought to the Council Chambers for this mock debate. The way the pupils engaged with complex topics, listened to each other, and presented their arguments with such thoughtfulness gives me real confidence in the future of the Scottish Borders.
“If these students are any indication of the next generation of decision-makers, our communities are in very capable hands.”
The event successfully provided a platform for students to meet and engage directly with local decision-makers, fostering a greater appreciation for the complexity and importance of the democratic process within the Scottish Borders.
Photographs available from Scottish Borders Flickr Account Senior Pupils from SBC schools take part in Mock Debate | Flickr