This year, about 50,000 students from public schools and colleges in Bogotá used electronic voting to elect their representatives. It is an innovative mechanism that incorporates Technology of Information and Communication (TICS) facilities in the practice of democracy at school level. This electoral approach was coordinated by the Department of Education in each district.
It is important to point out that school government is an important instance for student’s participation in Colombia because it regulates the entire inner dynamics of the school, including student’s initiatives, teacher’s proposals and interests as well as school community concerns.
The “comptroller student” has the mission to contribute to social control and proper use of public resources. For this position, students from grades 6th to 11th are postulated. Meanwhile, the “student ombudsman” should ensure the rights of students and is chosen from those who reach the last grade of secondary education.
Online voting at school level promotes election transparency and motivates student’s participation in school governance. It also trains future voters on the use of new technologies for proper citizen’s practices and contributes to environmental sustainability.