‘Schools can do so much more!’ - perspectives on democracy and education from youth in challenging contexts across Europe

Jokić, Boris and Baketa, Nikola and Ristić Dedić, Zrinka (2026) ‘Schools can do so much more!’ - perspectives on democracy and education from youth in challenging contexts across Europe. European journal of education, 61 (4). pp. 1-13. ISSN 0141-8211 (Print), 1465-3435 (Online)

Text EjoE 2026 Jokić, Baketa, Ristić Dedić.pdf Download (393kB)

Abstract

IN ENGLISH: This paper explores the perspectives on democracy and education of young people aged 16 to 18 growing up in challenging contexts across six EU member states: Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Ireland and the Netherlands. Fifty-one participants took part in focus groups; these participants included young people from the outer borders of the European Union, metropolitan areas and those with experiences of legal trouble, substitute care or gender stereotyping. Analysis of their responses provides unique insights into how these young people - who may be considered doubly marginalized within contemporary representative democracies - perceive democracy in general and within schools. Results indicate that their understanding of democracy entails three core principles: freedom of choice and expression, equality of opportunity and collaboration. Across all settings, participants do not perceive formal education as a context in which everyday democracy takes place, which in turn clearly affects their democratic voice and agency. ------------- IN CROATIAN: Ovaj rad istražuje na koji način demokraciju i obrazovanje vide mladi u dobi od 16 do 18 godina koji odrastaju u izazovnim kontekstima u šest država članica EU-a: Austriji, Hrvatskoj, Finskoj, Francuskoj, Irskoj i Nizozemskoj. U fokusnim grupama sudjelovala je pedeset i jedna mlada osoba. Među njima su mladi s vanjskih granica Europske unije, mladi iz metropolitanskih područja te mladi s iskustvom problema sa zakonom, alternativne skrbi ili rodnog stereotipiziranja. Analiza njihovih odgovora pruža jedinstven uvid u to kako ti mladi, koje se može smatrati dvostruko marginaliziranima u suvremenim predstavničkim demokracijama, doživljavaju demokraciju općenito i u školi. Rezultati pokazuju da njihovo razumijevanje demokracije počiva na trima temeljnim načelima: slobodi izbora i izražavanja, jednakosti mogućnosti i suradnji. U svim analiziranim kontekstima sudionici ne doživljavaju formalno obrazovanje kao okruženje u kojem se odvija svakodnevna demokracija, što jasno utječe na njihov demokratski glas i djelovanje.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Language: English. - Title in Croatian: „Škole mogu učiniti znatno više!” – perspektive mladih iz izazovnih konteksta diljem Europe o demokraciji i obrazovanju. - Article number: e70899.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Challenging contexts, everyday democracy, upper-secondary education, youth voice and agency (izazovni konteksti, svakodnevna demokracija, srednjoškolsko obrazovanje, glas i djelovanje mladih)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JA Political science (General) L Education > L Education (General)
Depositing User:	Karolina
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2026 15:31
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2026 08:35
URI:	http://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/1311

Actions (login required)

View Item