Children’s Right to Participation: How Do Students See It?

Abstract

Abstract This paper aims to present the perspective of 10- and 11-year-old students on the right to participate in school (Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12). Data were obtained via focus group interviews with 60 students (Serbia). The interviews revealed that students perceive only the rhetoric of their rights, that they most often participate in matters related to extracurricular activities and never in teaching-related matters. Students experience participation as being occasionally asked about their opinion by adults. Findings suggest that achieving the most participation in school depends on the support and encouragement of adults.