One of this session’s resolutions is a recommendation to increase the daily subsistence allowance for students participating in activities organised by the government and private agencies
Youth: The second and winter session of the Children’s Parliament, which concluded yesterday passed a 17-point resolution.
The closing ceremony was attended by Chief Election Commissioner Chogyal D Rigdzin. He briefed the student MPs about the importance of their leadership roles in schools and the community.
The students will go back to their constituencies and brief students about the resolutions and the discussions that have transpired during the session.
“The parliament has been very successful. It provides an opportunity to deliberate issues,” he said. He praised the students for their participation in the parliament.
Among the resolutions is to provide better facilities for non-Central Schools to match that of Central Schools. The Children’s Parliament also agreed that students’ stipends should be increased.
The resolution states that subject toppers should be recognised for excellence. The Children’s Parliament also stressed the importance of driglam namzha (national etiquette) in society and stated that it should be taught as a subject in classes below eight.
The students agreed that either Khando Drowa Zangmo or Azhi Nangsa should be re-introduced in classes 9, 10, 11 and 12. To promote the national language, the student MPs agreed that school activities like quiz competitions should be conducted in Dzongkha.
The resolution also recommends that daily subsistence allowance for students participating in activities organised by the government and private agencies should be increased.
The Children’s Parliament also agreed that school cooks should be trained to ensure balanced diet for students.
The session began with a joint sitting of the National Council and National Assembly of the Children’s Parliament. Earlier, Chief Justice Tshering Wangchuk also attended the session and highlighted that laws help regulate the conduct of the society.
The Children’s Parliament is the apex body of democracy clubs in the country. The student MPs are members of democracy clubs.
The Children’s Parliament includes all school-going children, trainees and degree college students who are not older than twenty-four years. The parliament is designed to train children to be future leaders.
The parliament is expected to promote active and constructive youth engagement in discussions that could contribute to the policy consideration at the national level.
The parliament was conceived by the commission to help students hone their leadership skills and to facilitate the articulation of opinions, views, hopes and aspirations of children.
The Constitution of the Children’s Parliament was adopted on June 2, 2015 by 222 representatives of the 153 democracy clubs. The Constitution comprises of 16 Articles on various aspects the parliament.
MB Subba