35th National Children's Parliament in Slovenia

On 7 April, Eurochild member, the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, organised the 35th National Children's Parliament held at the National Assembly in the capital, Ljubljana.

The event brought together 140 young participants (116 delegates and 24 young journalists), accompanied by 44 adults. Participants were elementary school pupils from all regions of Slovenia. The main topic of discussion was the school system.

The topic was selected by children themselves and will remain the focus for the next school year as well. The event was attended by several prominent people, including the President of the National Assembly (who hosted the event), the President of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, members of the National Assembly, some ministers or their representatives and the Deputy Ombudsman. Notably, many of them stayed for the entire plenary session.

The children acted as true speakers, comparable to adult members of the National Assembly in their eloquence and engagement.

Given the broad nature of the school system topic, the discussions focused mainly on four subtopics:

• Relationships and Cooperation:
  Children highlighted the prevalence of unresolved conflicts in schools and noted a decline in respect for teachers' authority. They emphasized that teachers should be trusted, safe figures for students. They also pointed to the problem of excessive parental pressure on teachers, observing that some parents are overly protective of their children.
• Learning Content and School for Life:
  Participants called for a greater emphasis on practical education and life skills. They noted a lack of empathy among both students and teachers and advocated for education in financial literacy, critical thinking, communication skills, first aid and volunteering as an important part of personal development and the school curriculum.
• Methods and Approaches to teaching/learning:
  Many students found traditional face-to-face lessons to be less dynamic and called for more active, engaging classes. They suggested better integration across subjects, greater use of experimental and visual learning methods, and more hands-on activities.
• Values and Responsibility:
  Children expressed a desire for more meaningful involvement, trust, and responsibility. They want to be seen not just as recipients of decisions but as co-creators of the school environment. They stressed the importance of education that fosters critical thinking, tolerance and compassion.

The Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth is proud of this program, which represents a strong example of good practice in children's participation. Let's hope that children will continue to be taken seriously and treated as equal partners in all matters that affect them.

For further information, please contact Petra Zega, Professional Associate, at the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth.

Photo: Anže Krže