The School Council gives you as a course participant a clear mandate to take part in influencing your everyday school life – and the opportunity to practise real democracy.
The School Council at Åsa Folk High School began in its current form in the autumn term of 2024. The purpose of the council is to strengthen school democracy while also inspiring more people to take an active interest in shaping society.
The council is based on the model of representative democracy and can be compared to a Swedish municipal council. It consists of appointed representatives from the school’s courses and staff groups, with the principal serving as chairperson.
The council meets at least once a month. Decisions on current matters are made by simple majority. Course participants hold half of the votes, and according to the council’s statutes, the principal has both a casting vote and the right of veto.
Democracy at Åsa operates actively on three levels, with the School Council as the highest decision-making body. Level one consists of the various class councils; level two comprises the committees that focus on specific issues.
Among the committees connected to the School Council are groups working with, for example, the work environment, kitchen, library, student accommodation, outdoor spaces, and the Åsadalen event.
The School Council considers both motions and simpler questions submitted via email by individual course participants, classes, or staff members. Proposals are prepared before meetings by the chairperson and a secretarial group, which is also responsible for taking minutes of all meetings and writing an annual report.
The School Council manages its own budget and may allocate additional funds to support committee activities.
Meeting schedule for the autumn term 2025:
17 September
15 October
12 November
10 December