Petaling jaya: The Form Six Student Representative Council election held simultaneously nationwide today is seen as an important platform to give early training to students in understanding the democratic process and leadership. Selangor Education Department deputy director (Learning Sector) Hanisah Mohd Ali said the implementation of the election is in line with the aspirations of the Ministry of Education (MOE) to empower Form Six education as well as the Form Six Education Roadmap 2024-2030.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the main consideration in establishing the Form Six Student Representative Council is to ensure students’ voices are heard and taken into account in the decision-making process within the education system. Hanisah expressed that the platform also realises the national education philosophy in developing students’ leadership, communication, and social responsibility skills.

The establishment of the council will broaden the students’ social networks, which will help enhance soft skills and shape them to be more competitive, especially as pre-university students. The election process begins at the school level, and the best candidates will be sent to the district education office (PPD) for assessment before they are screened at the state education department (JPN) to select representatives to represent the state at the national level.

Today, the election process is conducted at the school level. Each school will nominate one outstanding representative from the three contested positions: chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary. All Form Six centres will send their best candidates to PPD, which will then evaluate and shortlist candidates for the state education department to choose the two best candidates.

The two candidates will then undergo assessment at the national level before the National Form Six Student Representative Council is formed, with the process expected to be completed by the end of October. This approach serves as an early training for students to understand the election process, in line with the voting eligibility age at 18.

This process helps mould them into responsible citizens as they learn how to carry out elections, evaluate candidates, and decide who they should vote for in this mini-election at the school level. Additionally, the Election Academy provided professional support, advice, and guidance to schools to ensure that the voting process and election procedures were carried out properly and efficiently.