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Student Voice

Student Voice – what is it?

Student Voice is about you – Ontario's students – taking control of your learning by becoming more engaged. It's about connecting what's happening in the classroom to real-life experiences outside school and giving you ways to help achieve your goals.

We want all students to be successful, and we need your energy and ideas to make this happen.

SpeakUp projects applications

Across Ontario, SpeakUp projects are helping students get more engaged in learning and their school community. Thousands of students in Grades 7-12 benefited from more than 1,800 successful projects in over 800 schools.

Make your project stand out by using these SpeakUp icons.

Watch Minister Wynne launch the Student Voice in 2008

It all starts with you

Speakup! Students like you are the heart of any school. We want to make Ontario's publicly funded education system better, and that starts with you! You have a voice, and we want to hear what you have to say about your education. We want to help you make your school a place where everyone feels welcome and where you are empowered to speak your mind, get involved and become active citizens and leaders.

How can you get involved?

There are three main ways for students to speak up:

1. Minister's Student Advisory Council
   Students told us they want to let the government know how to make Ontario's publicly funded education system better. We made this possible by creating the Minister's Student Advisory Council. Sixty students from across the province will meet with the Minister of Education to share their ideas and perspectives.
   
   Find out how you can get involved!
   
   
2. Student projects – SpeakUp
   Students also said they want the opportunity to make a difference in their classroom, school and community. Grants are available for student-led projects. Change happens when people come together to work on a shared idea or goal.
   
   Find out more about what others have done
   
   
3. Student forums
   Students told us they want to have more say in what their education looks like. We listened. Students want opportunities to share their ideas, opinions and interests with others. Holding student forums across the province is just one way we are making this happen.
   
   Check out what we're doing to give students a voice.
   
   

What you told us at the initial forum

On May 12, 2008, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne met with 60 students at a forum held by the ministry. Students talked and we listened to their ideas about what they want to see in their schools. They shared their ideas on how to promote Student Voice, what they want from their education and how to get more students excited about learning and going to school. The energy at the forum was contagious. We plan to keep the lines of communication open and keep building on this momentum by continuing to listen to students.

What did we hear at the student forum?

Here are some ideas students had about what they would like in their schools:

• The chance to have their voices heard and their ideas put into action by their schools, communities and the government
• An education with a variety of learning options tailored to the specific needs of individual students
• Flexible, caring teachers who are passionate about what they do and who understand and build relationships
• Opportunities to lead projects in their schools and communities
• Peer tutoring and mentoring.

Andrew and Pascal are the students who facilitated the student forum. Listen to what they had to say in these video clips about how to engage students and get them excited about school:

• Listen to Andrew
• Listen to Pascal
  (This is a French video with an English transcript.)

Speak up

This is your education. Speakup and get involved! Let's all work together to make Ontario's publicly funded education system the best in the world.

Send your comments and ideas to studentengagement@ontario.ca.