The government cuts the freedom of young people

The President of the National Association of Youth Associations says the proposed amendments to the law on student associations reduce the freedom of young people in upper secondary schools. With this, the government is working in defiance of its stated emphases.

A new bill by the Minister of Education stipulates that students should « abide by the instructions of teachers and staff in everything involved in the school, including working on behalf of the student associations of upper secondary schools ».

« This is a naturally grave matter that it is weighing the independence of young people in this way, » says Sylvia Martinsdóttir, president of LUF, in a conversation with mbl.is, but LUF is an umbrella organization for young people in Iceland and counts 43 member companies.

Presidents of student associations in upper secondary schools also expressed their dissatisfaction in a conversation with Morgunblaðið last week, saying they were concerned about the « Children’s Environment » of the High School, as Morgunblaðið reported last Friday.

In defiance of the administrative treaty

Sylvia claims only to have heard dissatisfaction with these changes in the LUF level and scratches in the head over the purpose of these changes.

Sylvia says the government is working on its own statements but in policy The Government of Kristrún Frostadóttir, which was made public in her December 2024, stated that the government intended « formulating youth policy and applying equal access to all children to sports, art and leisure activities ».

« In full honesty, I find this strange given that this government has emphasized that they want to write and create a youth policy, which should be aimed at some kind of policy on young people’s affairs, » says Sylvia.

« So I find it strange that they are at the same time impairing the freedom and responsibility of young people in colleges. »

Democratic

« These are democratic companies that work after the mood in high school every year. It’s chosen, » Sylvia points out.

And not only is it that young people’s independence is weighed, but Sylvia also says that its initiative is on its initiative. « It is not paid work to be in such a student association, » she adds.

She also says the changes are a concern with regard to stories of stories that social life in high schools has been on the decline since the end of the crown.

« Then you have heard that social life has a really difficult upturn. There is little attendance on balls and stuff, » she says.

« We should be empowering our young people and trusting them for the responsibility they seek. »

In addition, the government appears to have not sought the opinion of the Association of Icelandic Secondary School Students (SIF) on this particular section of the bill. LUF will hold a summit meeting in May, where the issue may be discussed, according to Sylvia.