Young voices shape discussion on Irish education

Students from across Ireland are sharing their ideas and experiences at an education conference associated with Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The ‘Student Participation in Education’ event brings together students, educators, policymakers, researchers and international delegates to explore how children and young people can influence education policy and everyday school life.

The programme includes keynote addresses, plenary discussions, workshops, a student consultation and school showcases. Student-led presentations will highlight initiatives under Cineáltas, Ireland’s whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying, alongside examples of pupils contributing to decisions, school improvement and inclusive learning environments.

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton will open the conference, with child participation expert Professor Laura Lundy delivering the keynote address. Harrison Rossiter Mc Guire, Uachtarán of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union, will chair the event.

The other listed speakers are Camila Teixieira of UNICEF, Professor Noel Purdy and Marta Kuljon of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers.

Naughton said meaningful opportunities for students to contribute to decisions make schools “more inclusive, responsive and effective places of learning”. She said her department’s Student Participation Unit was embedding engagement with students across policy areas, while the conference offered an opportunity to exchange experiences and learn from European colleagues.

Lundy said Ireland had examples of strong practice in capturing student voice across schools. “Today, we meet to share, celebrate and learn from the exciting work and, importantly, to hear what is working well from students themselves,” she said.

Rossiter Mc Guire said student participation was vital to an equitable education system and that presentations would showcase ways for educators and students to work together to improve schools.

The event also feeds into broader European discussions on democratic participation, wellbeing, inclusion and young people’s role in shaping education.

The department said the Education (Charter and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill had passed the Seanad and was expected to progress to Report Stage in the Dáil in the coming weeks. It aims to strengthen relationships between schools, students and parents through transparency, accountability and engagement.

The Bill would also provide for standard school complaints procedures for students and parents, and for student councils in all schools where students wish to establish them.