Education on Parliamentary Engagement (HR0044)

Which public issue does the measure address? The measure contributes to increasing the openness and transparency of the Croatian Parliament and informing and, where possible, involving citizens in participating in the processes of shaping, deciding and monitoring the implementation of public policies, open government and good governance.

What does the measure include? The measure includes the promotion and implementation of educational programmes and workshops adapted to different target groups and their needs. The aim of educational programmes for primary and secondary school students as well as college students is to increase the level of knowledge and competences and prepare them for participation in democratic decision-making processes. Through educational workshops for citizens, in accordance with epidemiological measures, interested citizens will be educated on various topics and opportunities to participate in decision-making processes (e.g. how and to whom to write a petition or proposal and then send it to a specific working body depending on the field of work, how to write a draft of a legislative proposal, how to participate in the process of public consultation on draft acts in the process of their adoption, the proposers of which are Members of Parliament, working bodies and members' clubs).

In accordance with epidemiological measures, in addition to the already existing educational visits for students of lower grades (3rd and 4th grade) and students of higher grades (5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade), an online quiz for students of the 8th grade "How well do you know the Croatian Parliament?", the educational programme is expanding with the opening of a Competition in writing an essay/representative speech on a given topic for students of the 8th grade. The invitation to students follows the educational outcomes of the curriculum of the subject History for the 8th grade of primary school, especially the teaching unit The Emergence of the Sovereign and Independent State of Croatia and the role and significance of the Croatian Parliament in the creation of the Republic of Croatia. The students write an essay/parliamentary speech which focuses on the basic state legal acts passed by the Parliament that are significant for the creation of the sovereign Republic of Croatia and its political structure. The purpose and aim of the competition in the writing of essays/parliamentary speeches for students in the 8th grade of primary schools is to develop the historical literacy of students and to encourage them to develop historical thinking, critical reflection, familiarise them with democratic procedures and nurture democratic principles and values. By familiarising with the 28 modern political history students understand political activity and are becoming acquainted with the process of building authority and state institutions.

In accordance with epidemiological measures, programmes for high school students include educational visits to the Croatian Parliament, which, along with a tour of the Parliament with expert guidance, also include a lecture for students that follows the subject curricula, attendance at the Parliament session from the gallery in the Parliament and the opportunity to interact with the representatives. The lecture refers mainly to the knowledge that students need to adopt from the field of the political system of the Republic of Croatia and the organisation of state power, and it is also related to the knowledge that students need to adopt for taking the exam in the subject Politics and Economics at the state graduation (matura) exams. In addition, a Simulated Parliament for high school students is planned to be held annually in Sabornica, with expert support to teachers for the preparation of a simulated student parliament. By simulating parliamentary work in the Croatian Parliament – from working in members' clubs, responsible committees and at the Parliament session – students directly acquire knowledge about the legislative procedure and the course of law-making. Teachers prepare students for a simulated session as part of the following classes: Politics and Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Ethics, interdisciplinary Civic Education, History and legal groups of subjects: Introduction to State and Law, Constitutional Set-up of Croatia, etc. The goals of conducting this training programme are: to provide students with practical experience of the activities of the legislature and the role of members, their work in parliamentary committees and in members' clubs, to clarify to students the process of making public policies until the adoption of laws, to encourage and develop political opinion and critical thinking of a student who is familiarising himself with the role and responsibility of the authorities, the sources of its legitimacy, the importance of the legislative procedure and respect for democratic procedures in the process of adopting laws and the importance of complying with the laws in force. The purpose of conducting this educational programme is to enable students to acquire knowledge through practice about politics as content, political institutions and political processes, as well as to encourage the active participation of young people in public policy-making and inclusion in decision-making processes. In addition, an online quiz competition for high school students called "How much do you know the Croatian Parliament?" will be organised on an annual basis. Quiz questions arise from the curriculum for the subject Politics and Economics in conjunction with the curricula of the legal group of subjects and other related subjects in the social sciences and humanities field. This educational programme has two goals: the first is to provide students with the opportunity to test their knowledge of the Parliament, its structure and competences, as well as procedures in the adoption of acts, and the rights and obligations of Members of Parliament, and the second is to motivate students to gain additional knowledge about the role and place of the Parliament in the Republic of Croatia from the constitution of the first democratic multi-party Parliament on 30 May 1990 to the present day, which implies all those constitutional powers of the Parliament as a Parliament of one of the Member States of the European Union. Competition in writing essays or parliamentary speeches on a given topic is organised for high school students. The invitation to the students follows the educational outcomes of the curriculum of the subject Politics and Economics for high schools in conjunction with the curricula of the legal group of subjects and other related subjects in the social sciences and humanities field. The students write an essay/parliamentary speech examining the basic state- forming acts adopted by the Parliament. The expected educational outcomes of such teaching will enable students to familiarise themselves with the political system of the Republic of Croatia and the structure, role and responsibility 29 of the authorities and the sources of its legitimacy even better. The purpose and aim of the competition in writing essays/parliamentary speeches for high school students is to develop their political literacy and to encourage students to develop political thinking, and critical reflection, to familiarise them with democratic procedures and nurture democratic principles and values.

The programme for students of higher education institutions includes a lecture for students on the organisation, powers and working methods of the Parliament and its working parties, members' clubs, legislative procedure, rights and obligations of members, tasks and working methods of the Parliament and its working parties in European affairs, etc. Part of the programme includes organising a simulated student Parliament in the Parliament. By participating in the project Simulated Parliament, students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge about the legislative procedure and the working methods of the Croatian Parliament, as well as to improve their rhetorical skills and ability to conduct an informed discussion and the importance of participating in political processes in general. Therefore, the aim of this project is to educate students about the work of the Parliament, as well as to stimulate their interest and motivate them to engage more in politics by raising awareness of the importance of active participation in political processes. The programme also enables the organisation of discussions/thematic discussions of students with members - members of the parliamentary committees, on a pre-agreed topic, the organisation of lectures on a pre- agreed topic held by the lecturers of the Citizens Service as well as lecturers from other specialist services of the Parliament.

In addition, in accordance with epidemiological measures, educational workshops for citizens will be conducted through which interested citizens will be educated on various topics and possibilities of participation in decision- making processes (e.g. how to write a petition or proposal and to which working body to refer it, depending on the field of the work, how to write a draft legislative proposal, how to participate in the process of public consultation on draft acts in the process of their adoption, the proposers of which are Members of Parliament, working bodies and members' clubs).

How does the measure contribute to resolving the public issue? The measure will contribute to even greater openness and transparency of the Croatian Parliament, and will also contribute to better information and, where possible, the involvement of citizens in participating in the processes of shaping, deciding and monitoring the implementation of public policies and open government and good governance.

Why is this measure relevant to the values of the Open Government Partnership? The measure is relevant for achieving the values of the Open Government Partnership because it increases the transparency of public authorities, enables participation of citizens, especially young people, with the aim of their stronger involvement and preparation for the decision-making process, to create a transparent and open society. The support of the Croatian Parliament to the education system through stronger involvement of young people in raising the level of competences and preparation for participation in decision-making processes is in accordance with the aim of raising the level of transparency and openness.

Additional information: The measure will be conducted within the framework of budget funds of the Croatian Parliament. 30

Activities: Implementation start date: Implementation end date: 4.1. Conducting educational programmes for elementary school students Underway December 2023 4.2. Conducting educational programmes for high school students Underway December 2023 4.3. Conducting educational programmes for students of higher education institutions Underway December 2023 4.4. Conducting educational programmes for citizens Underway December 2023

Number and title of activities: 4.1. Conducting educational programmes for elementary school students 31 Implementation indicators: - Educational visits for students of lower grades (3rd and 4th grade) and students of higher grades (5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade) conducted - Online quiz for students of the 8th grade of primary school "How well do you know the Croatian Parliament?" conducted - Competitions for students of the 8th grade of primary schools in writing essays/parliamentary speeches on a given topic conducted The baseline value of result indicators: The existing educational programmes conducted Source of data and frequency of data collection: Annual report on the work of the Citizens Service of the Croatian Parliament Financial resources required (Source of funding and planned resources): Resources are assured from the State Budget, section 010 05, activity A501000 Administration and management, in the amount of HRK 10,000 annually. Implementation start date and implementation deadline: ongoing - December 2023

Number and title of activities: 4.2. Conducting educational programmes for high school students Implementation indicators: - Educational visits to the Croatian Parliament conducted, which, along with a tour of the Parliament with expert guidance, also include a lecture for students that follows the subject curricula, attendance at the Parliament session from the gallery in the Parliament and the opportunity to interact with the representatives - Simulated Parliament for high school students conducted annually in Sabornica, with expert support to teachers for the preparation of a simulated student parliament - Online quiz for high school students "How well do you know the Croatian Parliament?" conducted annually - Competition in writing essays or parliamentary speeches on a given topic conducted The baseline value of result indicators: The existing educational programmes conducted Source of data and frequency of data collection: Annual report on the work of the Citizens Service of the Croatian Parliament Financial resources required (Source of funding and planned resources): Resources are assured from the State Budget, section 010 05, activity A501000 Administration and management, in the amount of HRK 10,000 annually. Implementation start date and implementation deadline: ongoing - December 2023

Number and title of activities: 4.3 Conduct educational programmes for students of higher education institutions 32 Implementation indicators: - Lectures for students on the organisation, powers and working methods of the Parliament and its working parties, members' clubs, legislative procedure, rights and obligations of members, tasks and working methods of the Parliament and its working parties in European affairs, etc held. - Simulated Parliament of students in Sabornica conducted - Discussions/thematic discussions of students with members - members of the parliamentary committees, on a pre-agreed topic conducted, the organisation of lectures on a pre-agreed topic held by the lecturers of the Citizens Service as well as lecturers from other specialist services of the Parliament. The baseline value of result indicators: The existing educational programmes conducted Source of data and frequency of data collection: Annual report on the work of the Citizens Service of the Croatian Parliament Financial resources required (Source of funding and planned resources): Resources are assured from the State Budget, section 010 05, activity A501000 Administration and management, in the amount of HRK 5,000 annually. Implementation start date and implementation deadline: ongoing - December 2023

Number and title of activities: 4.4. Conducting educational programmes for citizens Implementation indicators: - Educational workshops for citizens on various topics and possibilities of participation in decision-making processes (e.g. how to write a petition or proposal and to which working body to refer it, depending on the field of the work, how to write a draft legislative proposal, how to participate in the process of public consultation on draft acts in the process of their adoption, the proposers of which are Members of Parliament, working bodies and members' clubs). The baseline value of result indicators: The existing educational programmes conducted Source of data and frequency of data collection: Annual report on the work of the Citizens Service of the Croatian Parliament Financial resources required (Source of funding and planned resources): Resources are assured from the State Budget, section 010 05, activity A501000 Administration and management, in the amount of HRK 5,000 annually. Implementation start date and implementation deadline: ongoing - December 2023

Action Plan Review

Commitment 4. Parliamentary Openness and Transparency

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Unclear