Centering Student Voice in School: An Action Research

In recent years, there has been renewed attention on the role of students. Historically, student governance activities were emphasized as a means of fostering democratic citizenship and providing political experience. However, there is now a growing expectation that these activities can cultivate student agency. Amid this shift, the focus has increasingly been placed on the outcomes of student governance activities rather than on students’ experiences or their authentic participation in school. This action research explores how student voice can be meaningfully integrated into school decision-making through student governance activities. As both a researcher and an educator, efforts were made to foster a shared understanding within the school community regarding the significance of student governance and to empower students to identify and address school-related issues through participatory decision-making. To support this process, teachers provided feedback and actively collaborated with students to implement student voice-oriented practices by student governance. Despite challenges, students successfully initiated and led projects. Furthermore, valuable insights into school dynamics were gained by listening and incorporating their voice, and this contributed to creating a culture of shared decision-making. This study further proposes institutional and pedagogical improvements to enhance student voice in the school curriculum and explores strategies to increase awareness and participation in student governance. Findings highlight the significance of co-agency between students and educators in decision-making processes and emphasize the need for institutional and educational support to sustain meaningful student participation. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of cultivating a collaborative school culture where students and educators work together to develop democratic and participatory governance structures.