Five Hoppers Crossing Secondary College students will try their hand at running the state next month.
Year-11 students Shanae Joseph, Kyra Moore, Suleiman Mugisha, Achol Yol and year-12 student Callan Boudrie will experience first-hand what parliamentary life is like when they take part in this year’s YMCA Youth Parliament from June 27-30.
The students are among 20 teams from across the state that will spend three days debating proposed legislation and taking part in a range of leadership activities.
Callan said the team would put forward a bill to reform testing of the Victorian Certificate of Education.
Shanae added: “We want to provide a more holistic view.
“For maths, for example, instead of having a written exam, let’s do something we can use in the real world. So if you were given an application to build a bridge, you’d have to explain what measurements you would use and how and why you would use them.”
If the bill is passed, the students will get to discuss their bill with the relevant ministers.
More than 25 Youth Parliament bills have gone on to become actual legislation, including drug-testing for drivers and over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill.
Kyra and Suleiman, who are both eyeing up careers in law and law enforcement, said they put their hands up for the experience to see how the bill-making process worked.
Achol added: “Youth parliament is a great opportunity to explore other people’s ideas and it’s an opportunity you don’t get every day.”
