The aim of the project was to strengthen students’ civic competences by developing an active and responsible student council. We wanted to increase students’ awareness of school democracy, students’ rights and responsibilities, and their real ability to influence school life. Another important objective was to develop social competences such as cooperation, communication, decision-making and problem-solving in a group. The project also aimed to help students overcome language barriers and develop intercultural competences through cooperation with peers from another country. An additional objective was to support teachers in developing modern methods of working with students in the field of civic education and to facilitate the exchange of experiences between the partner schools. We also aimed to develop practical solutions that would strengthen the functioning of the student council and promote students’ social engagement both in school and in the local community.
We applied for the project because we wanted to strengthen the development of students’ civic competences through a genuinely functioning student council. The project responded to the needs of the school and local community. In the application we pointed to the low level of civic engagement in the county (including low voter turnout) and the fact that most students of ZST come from rural areas and small towns, which limits their access to experiences that build social capital. A survey conducted among students and teachers showed that social and civic competences are not developed to a sufficient extent: 68% of students do not feel prepared to live in a democratic society, 72% do not know which social skills they need, and more than 98% indicated that the student council mainly focuses on entertainment activities. The diagnosis of the student council at ZST also confirmed a very limited group of active students and insufficient communication within the school community. Therefore, the project aimed to strengthen students’ sense of agency, develop their civic and social competences, and support teachers in using active methods of civic education.