School students get practical knowledge of election process

Avneet Kaur

Nawanshahr, August 10

Under the Parho Punjab Parhao Punjab project, school teachers have started using creative and innovative techniques to make the teaching and learning process interesting and effective.

Rajinder Nath Sharma, a social studies teacher at Government Middle School, Kahlon, in the district, has come up with an innovative activity — mock poll — to make students aware of the election process.

Under the week-long activity, the school students were provided an opportunity to get an experience of the election process by preparing voter lists, examining nomination process from filing papers to their scrutiny and rejection, allotment of symbols, election campaigning through posters, poll rallies, preparation of ballot papers and boxes, appointment of polling staff, conducting polling, counting and declaring results.

Sharma said the students prepared all learning material required for the activity and participated in the election process with zest.

Narrating the election scenario observed at the school, a teacher said Sushant, a student of Class VI; Rajiv, Jaskaran and Bhupinder, students of Class VII; and Akash, a student of Class VIII, filed their nomination papers for the post of school head boy.

He said the nomination paper of Akash was rejected during scrutiny as he had given wrong information.

During the campaign, a notice was served on a student candidate as he offered toffees to allure voters while Sushant won the elections. A candidate, who had aggressive behavior, could get only two votes.

“The students were elated to learn not only about the election process in a creative method, but they also came to know about winning the trust,” added Sharma.