EPA and OBESSU: Partnering for Democratic Schools and Student Rights

We believe that education is not something done to students, but something built with them. To create truly resilient and inclusive education systems, parents and young people must stand together as partners in school governance.

Building on many years of close and enthusiastic collaboration, EPA and OBESSU (the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions) have formalised our shared commitment through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in autumn 2025.

A legacy of cooperation

While our formal MoU marks a new chapter, our history of working together spans many years. We have stood side-by-side as advocates for the school community at the European level, recognizing that students are the primary stakeholders in their own education. Most recently, our joint efforts have focused heavily on democratic citizenship, ensuring that schools are not just places of instruction, but laboratories for democracy where both young people and parents have a meaningful voice.

Our shared vision

Traditional top-down educational governance models are no longer sufficient to address modern challenges like democratic backsliding and the digital transition. Together, EPA and OBESSU promote a whole-school approach that grounds education in active participation and mutual respect.

Our partnership focuses on:

  • Democratic school governance: Advocating for effective collaboration among all education actors – parents, teachers, principals and especially the youth – to build inclusive systems.
  • Intergenerational fairness: Promoting a deep dialogue between parents and young learners to ensure a fair and just transition for the next generation.
  • Quality & equity in education: Working toward the objectives of the European Education Area, ensuring high-quality education is a right for every student.
  • Digital & citizenship education: Co-creating tools and policies that prepare young people and families for the complexities of the 21st century.

Years of joint action

Our long-standing synergy has allowed us to:

  • Influence EU policy: From the EU Digital Education Action Plan to the EU Strategy for Intergenerational Fairness, we have ensured the voices of families and youth are heard as one.
  • Promote co-creation: Supporting tools like SELFIE that allow schools to evaluate their digital readiness through the eyes of all stakeholders, particularly the students.
  • Champion student & parent rights: Standing together to ensure that “participation in democratic life” is a reality in every European school.

Moving forward together

This MoU strengthens our ability to act as a united front for the rights of the school community. Our future plans include joint advocacy, mutual representation and annual meetings to evaluate our progress and align our goals for the upcoming year.

We are proud to continue this journey with OBESSU, proving that when young people and parents work together, we can transform the landscape of European education.

Learn more