Voices into Action (VIA) Toolkit

A digital resource supporting learner and family participation in educational decision-making

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Norway

Consulting young people for education legislation

About:

The Ministry of Education and Research held a dedicated stakeholder consultation with children as part of the government’s preparations for the future Education Act. The purpose of the consultation was to secure a transparent process and a strong evidence base for decisions.

The consultation took place on a digital platform with approximately 30 children, mostly between the ages of 11 and 15. It was led by the Minister of Education and Integration and involved other relevant officials. The child participants represented:

  • Each Norwegian region
  • The Sámi Parliament
  • The Norwegian Association of Youth with Disabilities
  • The Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People.

The children were prepared for the stakeholder consultation and freely shared their opinions on a variety of themes. These included:

  • Every-day school experiences
  • Learning environments
  • Local school democracy
  • Learner co-participation
  • Experiences with teachers and teacher-substitutes
  • Additional themes of their choice.

Outcomes:

Ultimately, the Ministry included several of the opinions raised in the consultation in the final draft of the future Education Act. The draft was sent to open consultation and is underway.

Key element(s) of the VIA Framework:

This example particularly emphasises VOICE and AUDIENCE. Learners were invited to a digital exchange, giving them an opportunity to communicate directly with those in power. They were sufficiently prepared in advance, and their voices were included in the draft legislation. It is yet to be seen whether their opinions will be factored into the final Education Act; if so, this will be an effective example of INFLUENCE as well.