Student Councils in Democratic Schools: Conference Brings Together Rijeka's High School Students
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On Monday, March 6th, 2023, Delta organised the conference "Student Councils in Democratic Schools" at RiHub in Rijeka. The conference brought together a diverse group of 34 participants, including students, NGO representatives, principals, and headmistresses!
Student councils in Rijeka: various roles, similar challenges
Students from four high schools in Rijeka presented their student councils’ activities and concluded that their work has many differences as well as many similarities.
Student councils often celebrate significant dates (e.g., Pink Shirt Day, International Women's Day, etc.) and carry out (charitable) volunteer activities at school. For example, students from Gimnazija Andrije Mohorovičića Rijeka presented the work of the student council in organizing voluntary blood donation campaigns. The student council of Drvodjeljska i strojarska škola Rijeka presented their role in facilitating communication between students and the head of school through the example of their requests for new equipment (3D printer) to the school principal. Students from Medicinska škola Rijeka presented how the council attempted to address various dress code criteria by forming a unified Dress Code Regulation created by the students, reflecting the professional standards of the field they are studying. The student council of Prva riječka Hrvatska gimnazija presented the practice of assessing teachers through semi-annual reports collected and forwarded to the school's leadership by council representatives.
While presenting their achievements, students also shed light on the challenges they face, ranging from the ambiguous role of the student council to dwindling motivation and difficulties in communicating with school principals and teachers.
Challenges that reflect societal issues
After the students’ presentations and insights, a panel discussion was held featuring Lucija Dumančić Jovanović (GONG), Marin Capan (member of the board of the Croatian Youth Network), Jane Slaunich (Principal of PRHG), and Stella Denona (President of the Student Council of PRHG and the Student Council of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County).
Marin Capan shared his experiences: "I would describe my experience in the student council as dynamic, frustrating, and eye-opening. Many obstacles arose, but I successfully navigated some of them, and I even wrote to then-Minister Divjak. After I finished high school, I passed on my experience to two generations of student councils."
In addition to the concept of a democratic school, discussions delved into topics such as school autonomy and school management, challenges of working with a diverse student body without clear support from decision-makers, and the importance of connecting and collaborating among young people in advocating for greater decision-making rights in school governance.
"Schools could unite around common themes, including the work of student councils. Schools could allow student council representatives to be elected for longer than just one year to ensure continuity in their work. However, all of this requires greater freedom within the legal regulations," Jane Slaunich emphasized.
"The County Student Council gathers all high schools and primary schools in the county, but I don't feel like we have real influence," Stella Denona noted. Questions from the audience further deepened the discussion on the connection between the activities of student councils, civic education, and the political literacy of young people and Croatian society as a whole.
Lucija Dumančić Jovanović left the audience with a powerful and encouraging message: "Student councils are an excellent opportunity to practice decision-making participation. When you feel that you can't or aren't included, you shouldn't give up but rather fight for your rights – and this is how you become an active citizen."
It is essential to increase the level of school democratization
Participants reflected on the level of democratic culture in their schools, with representatives of the school staff joining them. Together, they drafted various activities through which the student council could address the identified weaknesses. Ideas varied from organizing joint activities to enhance the sense of unity among students in the school to discussions about evaluating teachers with the principal and the school board.
They will continue to develop their ideas within their respective student council bodies, as well as through ongoing project activities.
The photographs for this event were captured by Marko Laća, and you can explore the photo gallery here.
The conference was organized as part of the project "(RE)Present - Student Councils in a Democratic School," carried out by the Association Delta in partnership with Prva riječka Hrvatska gimnazija, and in collaboration with Gimnazija Andrije Mohorovičića Rijeka, Medicinska škola Rijeka, and Drvodjeljska i strojarska škola Rijeka. The project is set to run from February 1st, 2023, to January 31st, 2024, and its implementation is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.
