Mr. Matthew Ryan:

Student councils are one of the most important bodies in a school for students because it is the main way they can have their voices heard. Students provide invaluable insight to schools when they are reviewing their bullying policies on an annual basis because only students know what students are going through and they can say clearly what is happening and what they need supports for. It is sometimes difficult. One of the biggest challenges ISSU faces is the establishment of student councils and how they are treated. They are often set up so that schools can say they have done it but then they are not actually engaged with and they have to push and fight to be heard. When they are met with, they are treated as students, as though they are just giving a student opinion, as opposed to representatives of the student body which is what they are - they are bringing their peers' views to the higher bodies in the schools so that they can actually do something about it. The main things are, first, to support the establishment of the councils and making sure that every school in the country has one so the student voice can be heard. Second, ensuring that they are treated as equal stakeholders because they do make up the largest stakeholders in the education system. When they are not treated like that it is infuriating, especially on an issue such as bullying where students can offer such invaluable insight because they have been and are going through it themselves. It is imperative that the councils are set up and supported.