– We can’t concentrate. It is also difficult to write because our hands are so cold, says Rebecca Thomassen. She and her friend Tiril Hagensen sit in the classroom with scarves and jackets. They are students at Asdal school in Arendal. This is one of many schools in the municipality where the pupils are so cold during class that they wear woolen socks, scarves and jackets. – Not acceptable In the autumn, the municipal council in Arendal decided to reduce the temperature from 20 to 19 degrees in the schools. Money was to be saved. The national supervisor from the Directorate of Health says that it should be between 20 – 24 degrees in a classroom. Last week, Rebecca measured the temperature in the classroom at 17 degrees. Then the stepfather chose to take her out of school. – It is not acceptable in a learning environment for it to be below 17 degrees and for the children to come home and be sick, says Dag Øystein Hegna. Outdoor clothes have become indoor clothes at many schools in Arendal. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news – Disturbing Karl Stian Løvås is the head of the Arendal municipal parents’ committee. He confirms that the complaints are now pouring in from several schools in the municipality. – The complaints are about the students freezing, not being able to concentrate and that they are told to bring thick sweaters, slippers and blankets, says Løvås. He believes that it is disturbing that the students receive this message from the teachers. – If these teachers had worked in a completely different place, it would have been said that it was in violation of the Working Environment Act. He thinks it is a shame that pupils’ working environment is not equated with that of adults. – Children, young people and old people should not sit and freeze. You and I would not have accepted this at our workplace, says Løvås. – What do you hope will happen now? – I hope that the municipality can find other measures that do not harm children and young people. What about turning off the lights in the light trails in the evening? Who goes skiing at one o’clock in the morning? Noah Blandkjenn is one of several students in Arendal who dress well in the classroom. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news Must be evaluated quickly Ingjerd Livollen heads the upbringing committee in Arendal. She believes that it was absolutely right to test out the power saving measure, but that there is no shame in turning around. – Parents have brought their children home from school and students will sit inside with their bubble jackets. We need to take a closer look at how big a problem this is, because this cannot continue, says Livollen. She believes that the power saving measures must be evaluated quickly. Ingjerd Livollen, head of the upbringing committee in Arendal municipality. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news Øystein Sangvik is a manager at Arendal Eiendom. He says the lowering of the temperature is a charity to reduce electricity consumption in the municipality. – We have seen that we can save NOK 1.4 million by reducing the temperature by one degree in all municipal purpose-built buildings, he says. He clarifies that the low temperature at Asdal school was due to a fault in an electric boiler, which must be rectified now. He says there have also been minor errors at a couple of other schools and that this is not unusual when heating systems are started in autumn or winter. An evaluation of lowering the temperature by one degree in municipal buildings as an Enøk measure has been signaled to be taken up in Arendal city council on Thursday, confirms Sangvik. Øystein Sangvik is a manager at Arendal Eiendom. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news Students should be shielded The student organization is well aware of the issues faced by the students in Arendal. Leader Aslak Berntsen Husby says they have recently received reports of cold classrooms from all over the country, mainly from Oslo and the interior. He believes that pupils should be protected from power crises and other challenges. – We can question whether these municipalities really follow the Education Act and provide pupils with a good, physical learning environment, says Husby. He believes that municipalities that save electricity on behalf of pupils should think twice. – It is quite obvious that when you recommend pupils to bring blankets and write with gloves on, it affects their learning. The student organization is now focusing on getting the temperatures in the school turned up, and in the big picture ensuring the students a physically good learning environment. – We follow up and respond to rights inquiries from students, so that they can have a better influence in schools and in their municipalities locally, says Husby. Aslak Berntsen Husby leads the Student Organization, which has over 450 member schools, consisting of secondary schools and upper secondary schools. Photo: Hannah Baarøy In the classroom in Arendal, Tiril and Rebecca try to follow the lessons as best as possible. – Do you learn badly when it’s cold? – Yes, I feel it myself. You freeze like a stick and the only thing you think about is that you are cold and how you can get warmer, says Rebecca Thomassen.
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Cold classrooms in Arendal and the rest of the country – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
