Organizing social participation in education governance
In our report, we propose a model approach to social participation in education. We look at participation on three levels: political, school, and social environment. Each of these levels is important in the context of an innovative governance structure that could enable the introduction of new content into schools.
We want to highlight the special role of collaborative bodies that bring together many actors from all three levels of participation: political, school (including teachers, parents, and students), and the social environment. These bodies can help the various stakeholders work together and in their coordination, while also making sure that their interests and needs are represented and addressed. In these bodies, it is especially important to make sure that:
- all actors have equal positions and power, and that no one is left out or excluded
- all actors have freedom of expression and can bring up issues that are relevant and important to them, without fear of censorship or retaliation
- all actors have real skills and resources that let them manage and improve the education system, and are not just advisory bodies whose voice can be easily ignored or overruled
By making sure these conditions are met, the collaborative bodies can improve the quality and sustainability of social participation in education. In this way we can create a more democratic, inclusive education system that encourages the introduction of new content into schools as it allows the content to be adapted to the needs and expectations of the various stakeholders and ensures their involvement and acceptance.