Primary and second-level students should be given a greater role in decision-making at their schools, the Union of Students in Ireland said yesterday.
It said Ireland and the UK were unique in not having encouraged students at primary and second levels to contribute to their schools' development, and called on the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, to allow students to be represented on school boards of management.
The union said the Education Bill, expected to come before the Dail for a second reading today, gave statutory recognition to student councils for the first time, but allowed such bodies little real power.