The autumn term of 2026 marks the beginning of the School council’s third academic year at Åsa. The council has become an established body for decision-making and a forum where course participants and staff learn about democracy through practical application.

The School council in its current form was launched in the autumn of 2024. It is modelled on representative democracy, with local municipal councils serving as its inspiration.

Once a month, representatives from courses and staff groups meet under the leadership of Chair Daniel Berton, principal of Åsa. The School council considers proposals in the form of motions, questions, reports and other matters raised by the representatives.

Encouraging engagement
– Forty years ago, Åsa had a school council very much like this one, as a way of determining how the school could function as effectively as possible, says Daniel Berton.

When the “new” School council was established, he highlighted the initiative as a means of both strengthening democracy within the school and giving more people the knowledge and motivation to become involved in society.

– If you have taken part in our School council, you should be able to walk into any political committee in Sweden, and in most European countries, and understand what is happening, he said.

Democratic participation at Åsa takes place on three levels in everyday school life. The foundation lies in the class councils. Next come the committees, appointed by the School council to work on specific issues. At the top is the council itself, serving as the school’s overarching decision-making body.

Engaged from the start
William Hjälte, a participant on the General course, has been involved in the School council since its inception. He has served both as a representative for fellow course participants and as second vice-chair. In that role, he has stepped in to chair a couple of meetings.

One aspect of the School council that William particularly values is the opportunity to meet other course participants and members of staff on equal terms and have his views heard. He stresses that this is important for democracy within the school.

William has raised questions in the council, helped secure the adoption of an amendment to the council’s constitution and submitted several motions. One such motion addressed the issue of cutlery being left unwashed in the kitchenette used by non-residential participants. The motion resulted in the introduction of new and effective procedures.

The committees are a strength
– I recognised that there was a problem, but also that there were opportunities to solve it through the School council. Otherwise, I would probably have gone directly to the head of catering, but more classes than my own are affected. What the classes think and feel is the foundation of what we do in the council, William says.

Since 2024, several committees have been established through the School council to work on specific issues. Today there are groups focusing on areas such as the school’s working environment, library, boarding accommodation, outdoor environment and the Åsadalen democracy festival. Several committees have been created as a direct result of motions submitted to the council.

According to Malou Westergren, a participant on one of the school’s street dance courses, the committees are one of the School council’s greatest strengths. They enable participants from all courses, together with members of staff, to come together around shared interests and turn their ideas into practical action.

”I get a great deal of support”
Shortly after arriving at Åsa, Malou took the initiative to establish a committee for those interested in photography and filmmaking.

– Writing the motion was a little challenging, but I received help to ensure that what I wanted to put forward was communicated clearly. I feel that I get a great deal of support for the ideas I raise, Malou then said.

The committee model is based on the principle that anyone who wants to bring about change at the school can be directly involved in pursuing the issue.

Each committee receives a budget to support its activities. In addition, funding for events, projects and purchases can be requested from the School council’s main budget.

With the meeting schedule for the current academic year now confirmed, the School council continues to pursue its ambition: to demonstrate that democracy is not merely something people talk about, but something they do together.

Text and photos: Henrik Wising