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Description
In the midst of great changes in the educational system following the outbreak of COVID-19, the voices of students are largely ignored. This caused a disruption of democratic processes in schools, exacerbated the well-being of students and the successful implementation of control measures. This project aims to strenghten advocacy among CSOs and student councils as the representative body of students in monitoring and managing education policies in times of the pandemic, as well as to assert the importance of student councils in issues related to students'' rights and obligations. This will be achieved through advocating to the relevant authorities at the national and local levels and through a research on the involvement of students in decision-making processes regarding issues related to the them throughout Croatia. Advocacy activities will include monitoring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Primary and Secondary School Education Act and asserting their importance. Apart from providing insight into student participation during COVID-19 pandemic, data collected through the research will be used to form Recommendations for involving student councils in decision-making related to student issues in situations of crises. The project is aimed primarily at raising awareness among the relevant authorities and mobilizing them to support the work of student councils in conditions related to COVID-19. Furthermore, the project will involve educational staff from Croatian schools and student councils representatives, whose opinions and proposals are intended to be collected through research. Students will participate in writing the Recommendations, which will be publicly available for use to educational institutions, other CSOs, and the general public. The applicant and the partners will be involved in all project activities in their regions. The applicant will coordinate the process and will be in charge of project administration.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the lack of student participation in educational decision-making processes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia. The central issue was the marginalization of student councils (Vijeće učenika), which were excluded from the creation and implementation of educational policies related to the pandemic. This led to a situation where students'' voices were largely ignored, despite their education and well-being being directly impacted by these policies. The project also sought to address the inadequacies of current legal frameworks and the lack of systematic support for student councils and civil society organizations in this context.
The project conducted extensive research involving over 300 educational institutions across Croatia to gather data on the functioning of student councils during the pandemic. This included both quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups with over 40 students. The research aimed to understand the challenges faced by student councils, their perceived roles, and the barriers to effective participation. The findings led to the creation of a set of recommendations aimed at improving the involvement of students in decision-making. These recommendations were shared with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Science and Education (MZO) and other relevant institutions, through a series of meetings and a public conference. Additionally, the project facilitated the establishment of a network of civil society organizations focused on strengthening youth participation and student councils.
The project successfully raised awareness of the importance of student councils and their role in educational decision-making during the pandemic. It led to concrete outcomes, such as the MZO’s acknowledgment of the recommendations and its intention to present them to school principals. The project helped strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations working on youth participation, and it facilitated the creation of the National Student Council, which is a step towards greater youth involvement in decision-making. The direct beneficiaries of the project included students, particularly those involved in student councils, as well as civil society organizations and educational institutions. The project’s impact was significant in fostering dialogue and collaboration between students, educators, and policymakers, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive educational process in Croatia.