Broadening Public Participation in the Budget Process and Enhancing Inclusiveness: Mechanisms

This article examines the issues of broadening public participation and enhancing inclusiveness in the budget process using the “My School” project as an example. It sheds light on the institutional and practical significance of involving schoolchildren in budget processes through this project. Students’ putting forward and discussing initiatives aimed at improving school infrastructure, and taking part in voting, are assessed as an effective tool for building civic engagement. The article also analyzes the opportunities the project offers for developing in the younger generation the skills of collective decision-making, identifying priority needs and making rational use of available resources. It is substantiated that involving students in budget processes at an early stage within the project strengthens the elements of openness, accountability and public oversight in school governance and serves as an important institutional basis for shaping active, responsible and financially literate citizens in the future. On the basis of the research results, scientific and practical proposals have been developed to further improve the financial efficiency and inclusiveness of the “My School” project.