– It is essential for families in such a situation that we have the opportunity to complain, says Monica Tangen from Bodø. She is the mother of nine-year-old Troy, who has cerebral palsy. The son has been promised both an assistant and a special education teacher to help him through his school days. But according to Tangen, it has constantly happened that the school has not delivered what they have promised. At times, the son has neither recovered at school nor learned as much as he could. She therefore complained to the state administrator and was upheld. In recent weeks, however, this right to complain has been threatened. In the proposal for a new Education Act, the government dropped the point that gives parents the right to complain if the school does not carry out the teaching they have promised. But at the twelfth hour, the Storting has received a new point, which was adopted on Thursday afternoon. The change ensures that parents like Tangen can also complain in the future. In addition, the government is tasked with starting the search for other measures to ensure that decisions on special education are followed up in practice. 1.3 million hours disappeared – It is important that frustrated parents are given the opportunity to complain, says Jan Tore Sanner. Jan Tore Sanner was Minister of Education when work on the Education Act began. He now sits in the Storting. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The right-wing politician is among those who have secured a majority for the latest amendment. For several years, he has heard stories of students who do not receive the special education they have been promised. In recent months, this has become especially clear. In February, news revealed that at least 1.3 million hours of planned special education were not carried out last school year. Shortly afterwards, the Directorate of Education received a report from Proba which shows that many municipalities are struggling to follow the rules in the Education Act. Special education is one of the areas where it is most often missed. Monica Tangen has noticed this well. She feels she must constantly fight for her son to get the offer he is entitled to. – I feel I have turned into a howler monkey who is constantly at odds with the system around us. I really want them to see how I am among my friends. Because I’m actually quite nice, she says. – Little improvement Tangen has seen that even though she has won with a complaint to the state administrator, it can be a short-lived joy. According to her, the municipality’s offer to her son has not improved particularly much, even though she can beat the table with a clear statement from the state administrator. Bodø municipality has previously explained that illness among employees has created challenges, but does not wish to comment on this matter further. Tangen believes the overall problem is that there are few consequences for a municipality if it does not deliver the services it is supposed to. – I believe the state administrator should be given the authority to impose sanctions if the municipality does not follow up on a decision, is her proposal. Will consider more measures It is currently uncertain whether it will be as Tangen hopes. But the government has an important task of finding out what more can be done to ensure that pupils get what they need and have been promised, Jan Tore Sanner believes. – More measures may probably be needed. This applies both to how we can increase access to teachers with specialization in special pedagogy, but also how we can have good routines that ensure pupils the rights they have, he says. Education Minister Tonje Brenna recently promised the Storting to look into precisely this. – Any case of failure to follow through on decisions about special education is one too many, she wrote in a reply to the Storting. State Secretary Sindre Lysø in the Ministry of Education cannot say when the government can return to the Storting. – It is too early to say. There are various tools that, for example, the state administrator can be equipped with, or the municipalities can be given the opportunity to follow up. We will consider different options, says Lysø. Glad the Storting listened Children’s Ombudsman Inga Bejer Engh is among those who have been strongly involved in this matter. In April, she used strong words during a hearing in the Storting when the appeals court was the topic. Inga Bejer Engh and the Children’s Ombudsman are currently studying several complaints about special education. They will use the insight to make the complaints system even better. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB She is happy that the Storting has now ensured that the right of appeal becomes part of the Education Act. And not least because the government will now look for more measures to ensure that more students get what they are entitled to. – Pupils who receive special education need special arrangements to reach their potential and develop like all other children. It is also very important economically because it costs Norway enormous sums if children drop out of school because they struggle to keep up at school, she says.
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– Feel I’ve become a howler monkey – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
