Student leaders boost their leadership skills |20 July 2011

The workshop is being led by 10 trained student leaders from the Lampton School based in the United Kingdom.

The launch of its first session was held yesterday at the School of Education auditorium, Mont Fleuri in the presence of director general for schools Odile Octave and education consultant Patricia Francourt.

The education department is hosting this exchange programme with the Lampton School following the recent launch of the student associations in secondary schools and post- secondary institutions.

Two teachers from this school are also here to conduct similar workshops for secondary and post-secondary teachers.

Mrs Octave said the students associations “can help our student to acquire the means of being involved”.

“Input from our students can be useful in drawing attention to possible solutions and help to guarantee that the right decisions are taken,” she said.

She added that ultimately however it will be up to the association to take the actions that will make a difference.
 
“The leaders we are seeking in our institutions are those capable of influencing others in making informed decisions, capable of analysing the strengths and weaknesses of their school.”

She said they should also make valuable suggestions to bring about changes that will allow the school to grow and transform itself into a dynamic organisation.

Mrs Francourt said in the UK the Lampton School has associated itself with the national college for student leadership.

She said this partnership helps to promote leadership in the school.
 
“The college aims to bridge the gap between the adult and the young people.”

Those young people who are the students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, she said.

She added that teachers are working in parallel with the young people in the school and with the community to make things happen for the institution.

“Students have grown immensely in confidence, in self-esteem and things like bullying are on the decrease and they feel they have a voice so when there are consultations within the school they are able to sit with the senior management team and communicate their ideas.
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She said they are very proactive and all students feel a sense of belonging.

“These student leaders have actually worked with other schools in London.”

Mrs Francourt said when young people run courses for young people their responses are much better.