A day after their parents and grandparents voted in the municipal and provincial elections, pupils at a primary school in Mortsel (Antwerp Province) have been voting for their representatives in their school’s “Pupil Parliament”.
Less than 24 hours after the polls closed in the local elections, pupils at the De Bolster primary school in Mortsel, around 10km south of Antwerp are voting for their representatives in what the school calls its “Pupil Parliament”.
There is no lack of enthusiasm for the election and around 6 pupils from each class are standing for election. Teacher Sien Geysen told VRT News that “The timing of the election is a coincidence. We have timed it so that we can pick up on the municipal elections”.
"The children see that their parents are going to vote and above all our older pupils talk about this in class”.
"From the 3rd year they are able to stand for election to the Pupil Parliament, but all pupils at the primary school can vote."
"It has really caught their interest as you can see from the number of posters that have been put up. It can sometimes get a bit heated, just like in real politics”, Ms Geysen laughs.
Pupils that wish to stand for election have to make a poster listing 5 points that they wish to see addressed.
8-year-old Lucy Debaene told VRT News that "I would like there to be more things for us to play on in the yard”. Millie De Meulder (also 8) said “I would like more green and less paving stones on the school yard”. Luus De Raedt (7) said that "If everything stays the same it is a bit boring. That’s why I would like some new things”.
Millie De Mulder adds that "If the teachers were to decide everything that doesn’t mean it would be what we want”. That’s why I think that the Pupil Parliament is really good".
The 3 friends are all standing for election, but what will happen if 1 of them is elected and the others aren’t? "We will still remain friends” they all said
Lucy Debaene added that "The person that is elected can still use the others’ ideas”.