Collaboration with Adolescents' Parliament: Promoting a New Regulation on Students' Councils

1. Collaboration with Adolescents’ Parliamentpromoting a new regulation on students’ councils Matoula Papadimitriou Senior Investigator Department of Children’ Rights Independent Authority “The Greek Ombudsman” 2014, Edinburgh ENOC Annual meeting

2. The Children’s Ombudsman opinion on the operation of school councils We have examined complaints connected with the participation of pupils in school governance… Discussed the situation in schools with pupils and teachers… And found out that: • the existing legislation is outdated – problematic both in content as well as in inmplementation • students’ councils are not operating properly in most schools • nor students neither teachers believe in them – there are considered to be a “bureacratic” procedure with no real value or impact in school life (there are few exceptions though!)

3. The Children’s Ombudsman opinion on the operation of school councils In2006 and 2008 we issued special press releases focusing on the operation of students’ councils and the importance of safeguarding school democracy. In 2009 and 2010 we publicised our opinion about school regulations and democratic school governence, as well as our interventions to prevent and tackle school violence, through the empowerment of students’ participation.

4. The need for a new regulationon school students’ councils After hearing students’ and teachers’ opinions, we have claimed that the legislation needs to be modified and updated. Among else we suggested that: • school communities have to be better prepared and trained for elections and other democratic functions • teachers should be appointed, considering the opinion of students, as responsible for communicating with students’ assemblies and their representatives • we have to secure that students meet regurarly, collaborate and communicate with teachers and headmasters • there should be a provision on the procedure of revocability of students’ representatives, in case they are judged to be inadequate • students should have a say in the improvement of school environment • students should participate in conflict resolusion and mediation procedures

5. The Adolescents’ Parliament The Adolescents’ (Youth) Parliament was created in 1995. It is an educational programme of the Greek Parliament, implemented with the collaboration of the Ministries of Education of Greece and Cyprus. Every year 300 adolescents, students of the 2nd grade of lyceum, are selected, following an open call and applications. They meet for 3 days in Athens, at the Parliament. The students represent schools from all provinces of Greece and Cyprus, plus some Greek schools from other countries of the world. They discuss and vote to “adopt” texts on issues of public interest, following the parliamentary rules of decision making. So far the Ombudsman had not collaborated with the Youth Parliament, expressing his concern about the real value of this programme.

6. A proposal for collaboration During school year 2013-14 the coordinators of the Youth Parliament asked the collaboration of Children’s Ombudsman, to introduce and discuss with the students a possible legal text (law) directly connected with their lives. The Ombudsman suggested: • to discuss and elaborate on a new draft Regulation on Students’ Communities and Councils, that we had already prepared, and finally adopt a “law” that we were going to promote afterwards to the Ministry • create an e-forum in order to prepare and discuss before the meeting

7. The selection of students and the e-forum The 300 members of Youth Parliament were selected by the coordinators of the programme, out of 13.500 applicants (by draw and with some criteria based on their creative works) All of them were given instructions and passwords in order to become members of an e-forum, created with the guidelines of the Children’s Ombudsman, who coordinated and participated in the discussions.

8. The proceedings in 4 working groups • The young members of Youth Parliament were divided in 4 groups (“Committities”). • In each of them the Children’s Ombudsman and members of staff presented the suggested new draft “law” and explained the changes to the existing legislation. • Headmasters of schools who had collaborated successfully with their students’ councils presented their experiences and proposals. • Then, members of the Youth Parliament presented their opinion and discussion followed. • Each group –acting like a Committee of the Parliament– voted for the “law” presented by the Ombudsman and for some proposed amendments.

9. The final result – the text adopted During the final day, some members of the Youth Parliament, selected by their peers, presented to the general assembly –in front of the President of the Republic– their work in the “Committees”. They stated that democracy in schools had to be supported by the Ministry of Education and that changing the law is not enough: training of teachers and changing their attitudes to students’ participation is crucial. The Ombudsman promised to include the amendments adopted by the Youth Parliament in the draft text to be presented later this year to the Minister and the Parliament

10. Outcomes and profits The Youth Parliament for the first time discussed on an actual legal text that is meant to be promoted for adoption to the Minister of Education and the Greek Parliament. The Children’s Ombudsman exchanged opinions and ideas about the promotion of democratic practices in schools with the members of the Youth Parliament. The Ombudsman is going to build on the experience of collaborating with the Youth Parliament and make further proposals for strengthening the rights of students and their right to actively participate in school life and be taken seriously by teachers and headmasters! These days 2 meetings with teachers are organised, in Salonica and Athens, to listen to their views… It’s a project to be continued…