Constitution, Article 23 | Education

“When it comes to education, you often hear the term ‘compulsory education’. We prefer to talk about the ‘right to education’. Every child has the right to a good education. After all, school is a very important place: for gaining knowledge, growing emotionally, and learning to get on with others. But for that to happen, school has to be a welcoming place. The atmosphere needs to be positive, and teachers need to understand what you need.” 

“Teachers often do their very best to help. Yet sometimes they just can’t connect with a pupil. The current school system simply doesn’t suit all children. We’re seeing more and more children with a diagnosis, such as giftedness or autism. And in all the years we’ve been doing this work, we’ve never had so many children with mental health issues.” 

“It’s not uncommon for children like this to stay away from school. They play truant, or are often reported as being off sick. That can be a sign that something is wrong. That’s when we step in. We talk to the child and their parents: why don’t you want to go to school? Sometimes a child is being bullied, sometimes they’re feeling down, and sometimes they need a different type of education.” 

“How can we really help this child? That’s what we’re trying to find out. We usually do this in collaboration with teachers and support workers. And, of course, with the parents and the young person themselves. You have to dare to think creatively. We recently had a boy who was extremely bright, but who could hardly attend school at all due to a chronic illness. We found a different way of working for him. And there was a girl who had got stuck in her studies. After changing schools, she really came into her own. That’s what it’s all about.”