Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, the ombudsman for human rights, wishes all pupils, students and education staff a safe, curious and successful year. She emphasises that quality, accessible education is a fundamental human right and one of the most important foundations of a democratic, solidarity-based and inclusive society.

"Knowledge is a superpower. In Slovenia, everyone can access it through the public education system, but even the best school cannot impart it. It requires curiosity, effort, perseverance and collaboration with classmates. School enables not only the acquisition of knowledge, but also the experience of community,' says the ombudsman. At the start of the school year, she encourages pupils and students to seize all the opportunities that school offers them.

According to the ombudsman, children and young people can develop another important 'superpower' – empathy – in the community. School is a place where you meet people with different experiences, abilities and views on the world. Here, children learn to listen to others, understand their needs, express their opinions, engage in respectful debate and collaborate. By doing so, they learn to take responsibility for the community, as defined by Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to become active citizens. This article promotes mutual respect for the rights of others, as well as active citizenship. The ombudsman for human rights says that young people can use this 'superpower' to resolve disagreements verbally, understand others' positions and seek help when needed. This creates an environment where there is no room for peer conflict, humiliation or violence. School must be a safe space where nobody fears coming to class, speaking up, or being themselves.

"Human rights are not just learned from textbooks. Children learn about them primarily through experience: when they are heard, when they can participate, when their dignity is respected, when they see that equal opportunities do not always mean the same approach for everyone, and when they feel safe because they know that violence has no place in their school. An inclusive school is also a safer school. Where differences are understood and respected rather than excluded, there is less room for stigmatisation, exclusion and violence.' An inclusive school recognises the needs and abilities of each child and provides the support they need to progress,' says Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek. She therefore believes that inclusive education should be a shared commitment of society and present in all schools. A child's special needs should not prevent them from fully participating in lessons and in the school community, and an individual approach should be seen as the basis of quality education, not a privilege.

"In Slovenia, it seems almost self-evident that children will be in school in September, but this does not apply to all children around the world." Many children around the world still do not have equal access to education, particularly girls. It is therefore important to recognise the value of public, accessible education and to protect and develop it,' says the ombudsman.

Alongside acquiring knowledge, nurturing relationships, and active engagement, it is also important to take care of health. The ombudsman emphasises that schools must contribute to creating an environment in which all children have the opportunity to grow up healthily. This includes providing all pupils with access to quality, healthy school meals, with reasonable consideration given to health and other legitimate dietary requirements, as well as encouraging participation in creative activities and ensuring they get enough daily exercise. "I would like to see progress in sports education records next year. Not for statistics and comparisons between children, but because more exercise significantly improves health,' says Dr Drenik Bavdek.

Caring for healthy development also involves taking a considered approach to digital devices. Screens are a fact of life for children and young people, and an important tool for learning and communication, but they must not replace movement, sleep, reading, creativity, or interpersonal relationships. "Digital skills are essential, but it is equally important to know how to put down your phone, look at the person next to you, and give them your attention. This is also a life skill,' says the ombudsman.

At the start of the school year, she pays special attention to road safety. She calls on all drivers and other road users to be more careful and reminds parents to review the rules of safe behaviour in traffic with their children. "For a child, the journey to school is also a journey to greater independence. It is the responsibility of adults to ensure that it is safe. When children are on the road, safety must take precedence over speed.'

The ombudsman encourages teachers to educate children, promote critical thinking, and demonstrate that collaboration is always a better choice than conflict. They should encourage children to take care of their own health and the health of others, as well as the environment, and to respect human rights and dignity. 'To all of you returning to school after the holidays, especially the first-graders, I wish you to gain as much knowledge, skills, and empathy as possible in the new school year,' says Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, the ombudsman for human rights, at the beginning of the school year.