On Thursday, pupils from Orkney's secondary schools will take over Orkney Islands Council's Chamber and debate three issues prominent to their age groups.

As part of Kirkwall Grammar School's Citizenship Week, 24 pupils from across Orkney will experience the workings of a local council, from the receiving of agendas to the debating of key issues in a meeting chaired by OIC Convener Stephen Hagan.

One of the issues the pupils will debate is the distribution of a sum of money that has to be spent for the benefit of pupils in all of Orkney's secondary schools. This innovative idea stemmed from a proposal in the Norwegian City of Porsgrunn, where the local council decided that more input from young members of society was required.

Last year, a similar debate took place in the OIC chamber with pupils exclusively from KGS, but this year Stromness Academy and Sanday, Stronsay, Hoy and Westray Junior High pupils will join in.

Councillor Roderick McLeod, a driving force behind the initiative, described how important it was to gain a view from all corners of Orkney. He said:"Last year's debate contained only pupils from KGS but this year we decided to extend it to involve the whole of Orkney.

"This is important, as the views of youngsters from all over the islands have to be taken into account. The debate will also give the OIC officials (and a few OIC councillors in the gallery) a chance to get some feedback from Orkney's young people on one or two important topics.

The issues the pupils will discuss include the depopulation of the islands, an issue important to many of the pupils. The Director of Development and Protective Services, Jeremy Baster, will introduce this debate. Secondly, the pupils will debate the distribution of the money they have received, which will be introduced by Director of Finance, Albert Tait. Finally, the meeting will debate the issue of school dinners and obesity in younger generations. Assistant Director of Education, Peter Diamond, will introduce this.

John Devine, from Kirkwall Grammar School, said that ideas such as this were of great importance. He said: "The secondary schools have had pupil's councils for some time now which have served as an introduction to democracy. We felt this was something we could extend to give pupils and young people an idea of what it's like to be a local authority councillor and get interested in the local community. We hope to encourage the pupils to become interested in local councils after they have left school."

Convener Stephen Hagan, who will be chairing the meeting, is looking forward to hearing the views of younger members of Orkney's society.

He said:"It is of great importance to Orkney Islands Council to listen to and understand the views and issues that affect the children in Orkney today. The stage is set for a very interesting and productive debate, which will no doubt contain several valid points worth noting. As well as this, we could be listening to the views of future members of this Council!"

The debate will take place in Orkney Islands Council's Chamber at10.30 until 12.30 on Thursday.