For those who don’t know, this week is National Democracy Week – the inaugural celebration designed by the Cabinet Office to embrace our democracy and encourage democratic participation. It’s also the year we marked the 100th anniversary of some women winning the right to vote – another reason to reflect on and celebrate our democratic progress. Yet there is still so much more to do to address our country’s democratic deficit.

An annual study by the Hansard Society found that less than a third of people are satisfied with the system of governing, with very few people feeling they have any influence in national and local decision-making. This sense of dissatisfaction is felt strongly by many young people who feel that their futures are being decided for them by another generation. A study by Demos found that only 37% of young adults in the UK feel that British politics today reflects the issues that matter to them.

This is particularly the case for 16- and 17-year-olds, who are faced with a Conservative government strongly opposed to lowering the voting age. It seems somewhat paradoxical, then, that this week the government is asking young people to celebrate our democracy when so many of them are being denied a say in the future of this country.

Politics is like a language​​ – and without understanding that language, it is almost impossible to fully engage

Young people across the country have shown determination and leadership in driving the campaign to reduce the voting age. Last year, nearly a million young people voted in the UK Youth Parliament ballot called Make Your Mark – and chose Votes at 16 as one of their priority campaigns. It’s clearly starting to have an effect on the Tories, who are becoming increasingly divided on this issue. A range of senior Conservatives have recently come out in support, including the former chancellor George Osborne, who said that his party risked “being on the wrong side of history”.

Last year’s general election was a defining moment for the younger generation, who debunked the myth that they are disengaged from party politics. As a result, we witnessed the highest youth turnout since 1992. However, a significant proportion of young people did not vote, including 43% of 18- and 19-year-olds. So we cannot be complacent.

Education is key. For too long politics has remained the playground of the social elite. Typically it is those who are financially better off who are highly educated in politics. Because of this we continue to see a disproportionate number of MPs with Oxbridge degrees in Parliament. Teaching young people about our democratic system in a school setting could drastically improve voter engagement and increase turnout. Politics is like a language – and without knowing or understanding that language, it is almost impossible to fully engage.

When speaking with young people in my constituency and across the UK, they tell me that the education system does not sufficiently prepare them to engage critically in politics. In fact, 80% of respondents to a British Council survey stated that better political education would help engage them in politics. Another recent survey found that 70% of young people have never experienced political education in school, college or university. The Cabinet Office clearly recognises this failing. In its recent democratic engagement strategy, it stated: “A frequent suggestion is for greater focus on democratic education at a young age.” However, we are yet to see any policy solutions from the government on this issue.

In this context, it was extremely disappointing that the Tories decided to filibuster Labour MP Jim McMahon’s private member’s bill last year. This bill sought to reduce the voting age to 16 and introduce lessons in schools to prepare pupils for the opportunities and responsibilities of enfranchisement and participation in public life.

The government has shown no leadership on this issue. Instead it is more focused on making it harder for people to vote through their dangerous voter ID plans. Rather than empty celebrations such as National Democracy Week, perhaps the government could implement policies to demonstrate its commitment to our democracy.

• Cat Smith is Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood