When Saskatoon Public Schools student Mahikan Nabi first joined Saskatchewan’s Provincial Youth Council, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

Now, the Bedford Road Collegiate student says the experience has given her a behind-the-scenes look at how education decisions are made — and how student voices can help shape meaningful change.

“It’s empowering to know your voice matters,” says Nabi. “A lot of the things students wonder about in schools - curriculum, resources, supports - we actually get to ask those questions directly and learn how decisions are made.”

Nabi is one of 12 students from across Saskatchewan selected to serve on the Ministry of Education’s 2025-26 Youth Council, a provincial advisory group designed to bring student perspectives directly into conversations about education policy, programs, and priorities.

The council includes students from Grades 10 to 12 representing school divisions from across the province. Throughout the year, members meet regularly with Ministry of Education staff and officials to provide feedback on topics ranging from curriculum renewal to student assessment and literacy initiatives.

For Nabi, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience has been connecting with students from different communities and backgrounds across Saskatchewan.

“We’re all coming from different perspectives and experiences,” she says. “That diversity of voices is really important because education affects everyone differently.”

Nabi said she has especially appreciated learning more about the “scope of influence” within education, and understanding the different roles played by schools, school divisions, and the Ministry of Education.

“It helped me realize how many people are involved in supporting students and making schools work,” she says. “There are so many things happening behind the scenes that students don’t always see.”

The experience has also inspired Nabi to advocate for issues she sees affecting students directly.

One area she is particularly passionate about is literacy and access to books in schools.

While working on research for an International Baccalaureate history course, Nabi encountered challenges accessing resources and began thinking more deeply about the importance of school libraries and literacy supports.

“That’s something that really opened my eyes,” she says. “I started learning more about literacy initiatives and how we can continue improving access for students.”

Nabi said it has been encouraging to see examples of Youth Council ideas leading to real change.

She pointed to previous council recommendations connected to increased Indigenous content and perspectives in schools and libraries as an example of how student input can influence education priorities.

“You can actually see the impact of student voices,” she says. “Sometimes students think nobody is listening, but this experience showed me that our perspectives really are being considered.”

Nabi was nominated for the opportunity by staff at Bedford Road Collegiate after demonstrating leadership within the school community. She hopes more students learn about opportunities like the Youth Council and feel encouraged to get involved in leadership and advocacy work.

“I want students to know that their ideas matter,” she sa. “If you care about making education better for future students, this is such an amazing opportunity.”

The Provincial Youth Council was established in 2019 and provides students with opportunities to share recommendations and insights directly with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education.