TITLE:
Complementarity between the Right to Participation and the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression in the Teaching-Learning Process
AUTHORS:
Joseph Ndayisenga, Juma Shabani, Mamadou Dramé, Roger Muhindo Binzaka, Joseph Ndayisaba, David Wanguwabo Byamungu, Ildephonse Sindayigaya
KEYWORDS:
Child Expression, Right to Participation, Right to Opinion, Children’s Rights, Burundi, Right to Education
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: This article examines the complementarity between the right to participation and the right to freedom of opinion and expression within the teaching-learning process. Grounded in international and regional legal frameworks, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the study adopts documentary and exegetical methods to analyze how these rights interact in educational settings. Findings reveal that meaningful student participation enhances the effective exercise of opinion and expression, fostering confidence, critical thinking, and responsibility. The discussion highlights that learner-centered pedagogy depends on active student engagement through self-expression. Ultimately, the article demonstrates that participation and freedom of expression are mutually reinforcing rights essential for improving learning outcomes and promoting democratic values in education.