Students and Parents as Actors of the Educational Governance

The chapter draws on the results of empirical studies in eight European countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom (England and Northern Ireland), carried out under the EU-funded GOETE project. It focuses on how the governance of educational trajectories affects the educational experiences and life courses of the young people in the eight countries, in particular analysing the role of parents and students in the processes and consequences of transitions. In the context of the redistribution of power induced by the processes of governance, the question of parents and students’ participation is paramount. Are these actors concerned by the reforms and in which way? Are they considered as citizens or as users? The chapter discusses to which extent these actors beneficiate from a legitimacy that permits them to participate in the decision process, in the regulation and in the delivery of services.