The matter in summary Østfold County Council has put forward two alternatives for the future school structure, which include the closure of several upper secondary schools. Pupils and staff at Greåker upper secondary school react strongly to the proposal and are ready to fight for their school. The leader of the student council at Greåker upper secondary school believes that the changes could lead to more students dropping out of school. The county council has proposed closures in order to save around NOK 167 million in the coming years within schools and education. It has not yet been decided which schools will be closed, but two proposed solutions have been put forward. The politicians in Østfold will decide which cuts will be made on 4 December. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. On Monday evening, the message ticked into Teams. – Dear students. Østfold County Council has today presented two options for the future school structure. This is how the hundreds of students at Greåker and Borg upper secondary schools learned that the county council will liquidate their schools. – No one understands what is happening and what the rationale is. Of course, everyone is upset. We are very happy in our school, says Aurora Grønlisom The day after, the shock has subsided, but there are many question marks. – We really think it’s just very surreal and we don’t understand that this can actually happen. Everyone is very upset and worried. We are very ready to fight for our school. I think more people will drop out – The announcement came as a shock, says Julia Vonen Svae. She is student council leader at Greåker upper secondary school, and says that many of her classmates are now worried about losing their place at school. The students at Greåker upper secondary school all agree that the news of possible closure came as a surprise. Also on student council leader Julia Vonen Svae. Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / news – In the previous proposals, there was no talk of a complete closure. Then there were only small changes, such as the removal of lines. The reason why the upper secondary schools are being considered for closure is that the county will save around NOK 167 million in the next few years within schools and training. Nothing has been decided, but yesterday the county council came up with two proposals on how to manage to cut the millions. The various proposed solutions: Proposal A: Discontinue Borg upper secondary school and Kalnes upper secondary school. Discontinue Hairdressing, flowers, interior design and exposure design at Mysen and Kalnes high school. Discontinue Information technology and media production at Halden upper secondary school. Discontinue the restaurant and food subjects at Halden upper secondary school. Discontinue Sales, service and tourism at St. Olav upper secondary school. Discontinue Technology and industry subjects at Borg upper secondary school. Discontinue Building and construction engineering at Borg upper secondary school. Complete electrical engineering and computer technology at Borg upper secondary school. Discontinue Natural Science and Sports at Kalnes upper secondary school. Discontinue Vg3 extensions to study qualifications at Askim upper secondary school, St. Olav upper secondary school and Kirkeparken upper secondary school. Move Electrical and computer technology and Health and early childhood subjects to St. Olav upper secondary school. Move Health and early childhood subjects to St. Olav upper secondary school. Solution proposal B: Discontinue Borg upper secondary school and Greåker upper secondary school. Discontinue Technology and industry subjects at Borg upper secondary school. Discontinue Building and construction engineering at Borg upper secondary school. Complete electrical engineering and computer technology at Borg upper secondary school. Discontinue Health and education subjects at Borg upper secondary school. Discontinue Building and construction engineering at Greåker upper secondary school. Discontinue Hairdressing, flowers, interior design and exposure design at Mysen upper secondary school and Kalnes upper secondary school. Discontinue Health and early childhood subjects at Greåker upper secondary school. Discontinue Information technology and media production at Halden upper secondary school. Discontinue the restaurant and food subjects at Halden upper secondary school. Discontinue Sales, service and tourism at St. Olav upper secondary school. Discontinue specialist studies at Greåker upper secondary school. Discontinue Music, dance and drama at Greåker upper secondary school. Discontinue Vg3 extensions to study qualifications at Askim upper secondary school, St. Olav upper secondary school and Kirkeparken upper secondary school. Move Music, dance and drama to St. Olav upper secondary school. Move Health and early childhood subjects to St. Olav upper secondary school. Move electrical and computer technology to Kalnes upper secondary school. Move the Science line from Greåker upper secondary school to one of the upper secondary schools in Fredrikstad. In both proposals, two schools in Sarpsborg will be closed. In addition, there are several vocational subjects that will no longer be offered. – It is not with a light heart that we propose that two schools should be closed, said Brynjard Rønningen. He is department director for training and competence in Østfold County Municipality. The student council leader believes that the changes could lead to more people dropping out of school. Some pupil Aurora Grønli stands behind. – I think this will lead to more people flocking to private schools and to smaller environments. And that support for mental health care must be increased when more people fall outside, says Grønli. Greåker high school, together with Borg high school and Kalnes high school, are in danger of being closed down, according to the county council’s proposal. All schools are located in Sarpsborg municipality. Photo: Jan Kenneth Bråten / news Mayor: Calls the cuts unfair In addition to closing schools and lines, it is proposed to cut around 100 man-years. For mayor of Sarpsborg Magnus Arnesen (H), the news came as a shock. – This is far beyond what I had expected and am able to accept, says Arnesen. He understands that the county council must cut the economy, but says it is unfair that so much goes beyond his municipality. Mayor of Sarpsborg Magnus Arnesen is shocked by the news about the school cuts that will hit his municipality hard. Photo: Julie Helene Günther / news – What worries me here is that it seems that very many of the cuts affect one municipality specifically. And it is cause for concern with regard to the citizens who live in Sarpsborg. The principal must reassure the students Also acting principal at Greåker upper secondary school Grete Normann Tofteberg explains that the news came as a shock. Several of the teachers are ready to fight for their school, says the acting principal at Greåker upper secondary school. Grete Normann Tofteberg. Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / news The pupils had gone home when word came of the school cuts. Now Tofteberg now has a job ahead of him to keep the students safe at school. – We must still spend time getting good and correct information out, and reassure students that their school places will remain, says Tofteberg. The school at Greåker is part of one of the proposals for the county municipalities. But Borg upper secondary school is listed as ready for liquidation in both proposals. This means that the school will in all probability be closed down. – It is sad for one of the world’s richest countries that has such an enormous amount of money on its books. And who are unable to take care of young people and their education, says teacher at Borg upper secondary school, Kyrre Sæther. Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news Teacher, Kyrre Sæther, says the students are uncertain and worried about how long the journey will be in the future. He also believes that the state could have allocated more money. – How much consultants does the county actually use? Have they looked at their own funds? Can you save there? Do they really need a million in salary? It is permissible to ask that question, says Sæther. Borg upper secondary school in Sarpsborg is one of the smaller upper secondary schools in the county. In return, they have large premises to house all the different vocational needs of the school. Photo: Philip Andre Johannesborg / news The schools only have about a week to give their final feedback. The county director in Østfold presents his proposal for decision on 7 November. It is not until 4 December that the politicians in Østfold will decide which cuts will be made. Until then, the county can expect “domestic conditions”. – And if necessary, there will be demonstrations. At least I’m ready, says pupil Aurora Grønli. Published 29/10/2024, at 21.01 Updated 29.10.2024, at 22.15
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Pupils and staff at Greåker and Borg high school react – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
