NSW students will have a direct influence on education and school policy that affects them under a new initiative unveiled by the state’s government.
The Minister’s Student Council, announced by Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell, will accompany a new online Student Voice Hub, giving all NSW students a platform to share their views and creativity with the wider community.
Minister Mitchell said that the two new platforms are “exciting and important tools” for students, giving them greater capacity to provide feedback to government.
"Students are at the centre of everything we do in education and these platforms empower them to influence public policy," Mitchell said.
"The Student Council will be the peak forum for interaction between NSW public school students, the department and myself”.
Students put in the driver’s seat
Research from Harvard University has shown that student agency may be as important an outcome of schooling as basic skills.
In recognition of this research, some schools, such as Alstonville Public School, have created student parliaments in an effort to give students more control over how teaching and learning works.
Under the NSW Government’s latest initiative, set to begin in 2021, students will decide the exact design of the Council, but it is expected that all secondary students will have the opportunity to provide input.
“Delegates will be elected from a range of secondary schools to form the council and will meet with decision-makers within the NSW school system to develop policy,” Mitchell said, adding that the Council is reinforced by the new Student Voice Hub.
“The Student Voice Hub strengthens the ongoing engagement of students with the department, each other and the wider community”.
The Hub is a partnership in learning and listening that will play a key role in building a better education system as student perspectives, experiences and aspirations shape and enrich schools and communities.
“The Student Voice Hub would also provide students opportunities to refine their writing and content creation skills along with pitching their stories and ideas," Mitchell said.
“As part of the submission process to the hub, students will have the opportunity to refine their ideas and articles”.