1.1
The Election Commission was established on 4 September
1957. To date, the Commission has conducted 11 General Elections,
the first in 1959 and the latest in 2004.
1.2 During every general election or by-election,
the Election Commission requires the services of numerous election
workers who, during a general election, number a few thousand.
It is very essential that these election workers be given specific
training to equip them with adequate knowledge and exposure relating
to election laws, regulations and procedures. Through this training
process, the Election Commission hopes that the election workers
concerned will be able to discharge their duties and responsibilities
more efficiently and effectively in an honest and impartial manner.
1.3
Training programmes for election workers all this while have been
carried out by the Election Commission as and when there is a
need for the Commission to conduct an election. There was no systematic
training schedule, due to the fact that the Election Commission
does not have its own premise to facilitate such scheduled training.
Accordingly, on 20 July 2005, the government agreed to the Election
Commission’s request for the establishment of an Election
Academy to address this problem. Following the establishment of
the Election Academy, more systematic training modules can now
be implemented to train election workers on a regular basis in
election laws, regulations and procedures related to the management
of elections.
