It has been suggested by Jungle Drum readers that one of the reasons many young people don’t vote is due to a lack of political education in schools. As it stands, the subject of politics is not compulsory in UK schools, despite the fact that it has been called for on many occasions.

The most recent plea was by a state school sixth former Pritesh Raichura from North London, writing in The Times last week whilst on work experience. Pritesh wrote that the politics must be incorporated into the curriculum if the government wants young people to be politically aware and active, particularly as they have the ability to help shape the form of the next government by the time they finish their A-levels.

In the article, ‘Make politics lessons compulsory says sixth former’, Pritesh said: “Nowhere in my school career have I discussed UK politics, the parties and their policies, the voting system or the way the government works. So when most of us leave school, 18 years old, we have not even learnt about what each party represents or why it is important to vote”.

What are your experiences of political education at school? Is the lack of political education the main reason that young people are not voting? Or is this the tip of the iceberg?

Armed with a loaded question and a video camera, I went on a mission around Southampton Solent University stopping passing students and lecturers. I asked them 'Why aren't young people voting?'. This video shows the responses I got:

The main themes to emerge from these 'on the spot' responses include:

• There is a lack of political education in schools
• The representation of politics in the media is too complicated
• Political communication is not targeted at young people or used enough online
• Young people don't understand the different parties and their policies
• Young people are too focussed on the 'here and now' to take an interest in politics

Do you agree with these statements or have anything to add? Perhaps more importantly do you disagree with any of these statements?