Students get ringside view of grassroots governance

In an innovative approach to civic education, student representatives from 11 local high schools recently attended a session of Shanghai's Hongkou district people's congress as special observers, gaining firsthand exposure to civic engagement and grassroots governance.

"When I first learned about 'whole-process people's democracy' in junior high school, it was an abstract concept to me," said Zhang Yiwu, a student from Chengzhong High School affiliated to Tongji University. "Now, sitting in the congress hall, I can feel that it is not just theoretical knowledge, but something embedded in representatives' proposals and policies that directly affect our lives."

As the nation's first demonstration district to comprehensively roll out youth education on the people's congress system, Hongkou has pioneered a structured approach to political education since 2023.

"We have established a support system that enables students to engage directly with deputies to the district-level people's congress, visit legislative contact points, draft research reports and legislative proposals, and simulate standing committee meetings under professional guidance," said Li Wenqing, deputy director of the education, science, culture and public health committee of the Hongkou district people's congress standing committee.

"This is a concrete step to implement the requirement of integrating institutional confidence education throughout national education, and an innovative response to young people's need for political enlightenment," Li added.

The program has produced tangible results in student participation. Tang Qun, principal of Shanghai Beijiao High School, said research-based proposals from students on regional development and livelihood issues were formally submitted to the congress, allowing youth perspectives to be incorporated into local governance.

"The biggest change for me was shifting from focusing only on studies to beginning to care about society," said Han Jiaqi, a student at Shanghai Beijiao High School. "I used to think politics was 'adults' business', but now I understand that every citizen is a participant."

Zhang, a student from Jiangsu province studying in Shanghai, said she paid particular attention to policies related to access to education for non-local students.

"As a student from outside Shanghai, I deeply appreciate the inclusiveness of Shanghai's education system and hope for more comprehensive policies that can benefit more nonlocal students," she said.

"Through interactions with students, I have seen institutional confidence take root in their hearts," said Zhang Lei, a deputy to the district people's congress. "Although students under 18 are not voters yet, they are vital members of society. Listening to their voices and responding to their concerns reflects the essence of whole-process people's democracy at its most inclusive, authentic and effective."

Xu Wei, another deputy to the district people's congress, praised the students' performance during the discussions.

"In our exchanges on legislative authority and amendments to the city's sports regulations, students showed remarkable confidence and independent thinking," Xu said. "They are quickly growing into socially conscious citizens with both a sense of honor and responsibility."

"Traditional classroom teaching can make institutional concepts feel abstract," said Chen Mingqing, vice-principal of the No 1 Middle School affiliated with East China Normal University. "But on-site visits and simulated participation turn whole-process people's democracy into something concrete and tangible for young people."

Building on the pilot program, the district is expanding people's congress education to all high schools through elective courses, project-based learning and immersive activities, said Sun Lei, head of the Hongkou district education bureau.

The district is also exploring extending the program to middle and elementary schools, with future initiatives focusing on student research into practical social issues such as elderly care and community renovation.

zhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn