This week our Young Voices columnist Olivia Harris takes on politics and education to discuss whether young people should get more information on how we are governed.

When teenagers sit down with their family to watch the news after dinner, do they really know enough to be able to form their own educated opinion of those in charge? Or do the facts and figures just float over their heads? 

In a time where politics is very important and (not surprisingly), at the front of the news, surely now’s the time to filter in facts of politics into education, in order for teenagers to understand the democratic country we live in.

As the next generation, soon to be able to vote and make their own crucial decisions on the next steps for their country, the ability to make that decision on a range of facts given to them in school would be very beneficial. 

Undoubtedly, even many adults would probably own up to entering a polling station and only voting from decisions based off friends or family.

Equally, this could be what will happen in the next few years when teenagers are allowed to eventually cast their vote on such an important situation. 

Now, I’m not saying to sit and lecture students on politics. However, some regular discussions/ debates, could see a huge impact.

Not only to form their own opinion of what’s going on around them, but also to be able to understand, and feel a part of, what’s currently on the news. 

Politics can be a very heavy and almost boring subject, mainly due to it feeling very adult-orientated.

If education can take a step towards making politics more accessible, maybe teenagers might think that their futures, look just that bit brighter.