Publication
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student voice: findings and recommendations
The vast majority of young people, lost out on opportunities to have their voice heard and to learn the competences to assert their rights as a result of the pandemic. Student decision-making regarding school life was deeply impacted, with about one-third of teachers saying that students were never given the opportunity to participate in decision-making during lockdown. While school closures reduced the physical spaces for freedom of expression and civic participation, the study provides insights into how student creativity thrived online during that time.
This study provides a reflection on the overall loss in opportunities and learning on student voice during the pandemic, as well as recommendations for school directors and personnel, teachers, educators, policy-makers and young people on how to address this loss. It highlights the importance of prioritizing student voice, especially for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to counter inequalities and promote healthier democracies.
