When pupils graduate from school, they are expected to have a democratic mindset. They should be interested in politics, be able to form informed opinions about the parties represented in elections, engage in participatory processes as active citizens, by means of shaping their living environment, or raise their voice when necessary. This requires not only political knowledge relevant to democracy, as taught in the subject of political education, but also respective social skills and the gradual development of a democratic attitude, which is indispensable in any democratic culture. Pupils can develop these skills in their own school environment, practicing what we know as “democratic participation”.

A democratic school culture lies at the heart of whole school approaches. This course focuses on practical implementation and explores on how the specific instrument of class councils can serve as a powerful tool to promote student voice and agency in whole school development processes. Although changing an entire school system is complex and takes time, class councils offer an easy way to begin and provide an important first step towards greater participation in school life. In this course we will learn more on how to successfully implement this method and about its advantages not only for our pupils but for the school community as a whole.

The course is offered by the European School Education Platform. Visit our website for more information.

Duration and workload

Course competences