Action Day Landtag makes school: Young people experience democracy up close
Action Day Landtag makes school: Young people experience democracy up close
Köln-Holweide, Deutschland - Today, on June 11, 2025, the campaign days "Landtag makes school" on the agenda are located in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2018 there has been this great project that aims to inspire young people for political issues and to bring them closer to the importance of democracy. In recent years, more than 17,000 pupils have participated in interactive school visits that give them an authentic insight into the way of working in parliament. The idea behind the campaign days was launched by André Kuper, the President of the state parliament.
This year 13 schools from different cities are invited, including surprising talents such as the Cologne-Holweide comprehensive school, the Erich Kästner-Gymnasium and the Hölderlin-Gymnasium from Cologne-Mülheim. These schools are in intensive exchange for the other educational institutions in NRW in order to promote the democracy thinking together.
insights into parliamentary work
During the campaign days, students can use the state parliament's speaker in the inside to experience the feeling of a real debate. This year even around 800 young people take over the Düsseldorf state parliament for two days and simulate a plenary session. With this simulation, the controversial discussion about the costume obligation at schools during the carnival was on the agenda. The 9th grader Ben Scheffzick from Leichlingen, who slips into the role of the President of the Landtag, spoke out against such an obligation.
President of the state parliament Rainer Schmeltzer emphasized on such an occasion how important it is to sensitize young people to political questions. "Politics is not just something for adults," he said, pointing out that young people who have so far showed little interest should also be brought closer to the topic through such actions. The pupils are increasingly showing how much commitment to them - Fay Koeman from Düsseldorf is a good example of how to gain new interest in political topics through information and discussions.
political education as the cornerstone of democracy
The current discussions about political education underline the need to illustrate democratic values and to reduce extremism. In this context, the action days "Landtag makes school" are an important step. The Beutelsbach consensus from 1976, which was to create the foundations for political education, is repeatedly questioned as a central point. Critics demand that political education should not only serve as a preventive measure, but also aim to promote maturity and social changes. Strengthening political education plays a crucial role because it forms citizens: inside that actively participate in the democratic community.
In summary, it can be said that the “Landtag makes school” initiative not only aims at the political interest of young people, but also lays the basis for a lively democratic culture. Whether in class or in such actions - who knows how the state parliament ticks is better prepared to take responsibility in the future. The challenge remains great, but events like this show that there are many young people who have a good knack for politics.For more information on the campaign days and the goals of political education in democracy, visit the Landtagsite,) Tagesschau as well as bpb.de.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Köln-Holweide, Deutschland |
| Quellen | |