“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.”
– Dr. Maria Montessori
The acclaimed Parliament House is a symbol of democracy in Pakistan and is located in the heart of the busy city of Islamabad, amid the tall government buildings and the bustle of political activity. Grade 8 students of Beaconhouse I-9 Campus recently had the honour of entering this respected institution and setting out on a quest to discover the inner workings of our country’s government.
Anticipation arose in the air as we approached Parliament House’s vast halls. With the guidance and support of informed staff in charge, we were ready to go off on an exciting journey into the
core of Pakistani democracy.
Our first stop was the Senate, a historically and traditionally rich chamber. The goal of the Senate, as articulated by our knowledgeable guide, is to represent Pakistan’s provinces and make sure their opinions are taken into consideration at the federal level. We discovered that senators are chosen for six-year terms by the members of provincial assemblies. The interests of every region are sufficiently taken into account during the legislative process thanks to this special method of representation.
We then entered the National Assembly, which is the centre of Pakistan’s political system. Here we saw democracy at work in the lively ambiance of the chamber. The National Assembly’s influence on national laws and policies was thoroughly described in our guide. We discovered that the people of Pakistan directly elect their National Assembly members through a system of universal adult suffrage.
We were able to observe the complexities of parliamentary democracy as we paid close attention to our
guide’s remarks. We were astounded by the variety of viewpoints and voices that were represented in the corridors of power, each adding to the rich web of Pakistani democracy.
Beyond the technicalities of parliamentary procedure, our journey generated spirited conversations and gave us a renewed sense of civic duty. We came to see that democracy is a live, breathing system that calls for the active engagement and participation of all citizens, not just a theoretical idea to be studied in textbooks.
“Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves”.
– Euripides
Students left Parliament House with a clearer knowledge of their responsibilities as Pakistan’s future citizens. This visit had been more than just an educational outing; it had been a life-changing event that left all the students with a renewed sense of pride in the democratic heritage and a determination to defend its ideals.
