Poll education pushed in curriculum

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) will coordinate with Education officials to include voter education in the curriculum, a poll official said yesterday, in preparation for the October elections for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Y. Larrazabal said in an interview yesterday that the Comelec is working on a partnership with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to institutionalize voter education in the curriculum.

“[Voter education will] be [conducted] one day in the school year but we will also provide the materials so that it will be readily available to the students if they want to know more about the elections,” he said.

Modules will include steps in voter registration and discussions on joining the electoral process, Mr. Larrazabal added.

“[If] it’s already in the curriculum, [there will be] more awareness, more involvement of the citizenry in the election.”

Mr. Larrazabal said he will meet with Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro to discuss details of the proposed tie-up.

The country held its first national automated elections last May 10. Winning candidates were known within hours after the end of voting. — AMGR