At Sølvberget in Stavanger, Bertine Lygre is one of the very few who gets help with her homework. – In the beginning it was only me who was here. But it’s very nice, and it’s more help for me when I’m here alone. Bertine Lygre takes up subjects from upper secondary school to gain general study skills. Photo: Marte Skodje / news The 22-year-old has taken a vocational course and is trained as a child and youth worker. Now the plan is to become a nurse. – Why do you need homework help? – Because I have always struggled in maths. But after I started here, I feel much better than I have ever done before, replies Lygre. She gets homework help from Red Cross volunteers. June Marie Holm spends her free time helping others with their school work. – I’m enjoying myself. Especially when the students have aha experiences, then it’s extra fun. June Marie Holm is a homework helper for the Red Cross. Every other week, he spends his free time helping students with school work. Photo: Marte Skodje / news The challenge now is that more young people drop the free offer. The dropout of pupils is so great that there are often more volunteer homework helpers – than there are candidates to help. Sometimes no students have arrived at all. – It is of course demotivating to have set aside time and then no one comes, says Holm. Considering changing name after 20 years The scheme with free homework help, under the auspices of the Red Cross, started in Stavanger in 2006. A long-popular offer for students in primary school, upper secondary school and adult education. – Before the pandemic, we had a great influx of students who needed help with their homework. Here at Sølvberget, we were often up to 35 on one shift, says Vilja Mundheim, who is an advisor for upbringing, Red Cross Stavanger. – We are considering changing the name of homework help because we want those who need to make use of the offer not to have a threshold to come, says Vilja Mundheim in Red Cross Stavanger. Photo: Marte Skodje / news But that is no longer the case. A common occurrence is that young people are reluctant to ask for help. – They don’t necessarily want to say it out loud to friends, that “I’m going to get homework help”, says Mundheim. Today, the Red Cross has approximately 40 homework help groups around Norway. The dropout of pupils is clearly felt in several places. – We receive clear feedback that recruiting students is challenging. Many of the participants believe the name homework help is out of date, says Peter Mikov, who is a national adviser for the scheme. Two hours every other week, June Marie Holm spends her free time helping random students with their schoolwork. The challenge is that fewer people want homework help from the Red Cross. Photo: Marte Skodje / news In Stavanger, they are considering changing the name of the almost 20-year-old offer. – Young people say that the word help is somewhat stigmatizing. They are afraid that they will appear stupid. And it is terribly stupid, if it is the case that they avoid using an offer because they are afraid of being put in a booth, says Mundheim. The national Red Cross has started a survey of pupils, to find out which name the young people themselves think is more appropriate. Some homework help groups elsewhere in the country are already testing names such as Studiecafé, Studieloftet and Fagstudio. The effect of this has not yet been mapped. Should Homework Help change its name? Yes, it’s stigmatizing👎🆘 No, it works just fine👩🏻🏫🤩 It doesn’t matter what it’s called✌🏾😏 Show result – All help is good help Even though several schools practice homework-free, the Red Cross believes that the need for homework help still stands. Whether it’s getting help with submissions, presentations or practicing for a test. This year’s results from Ungdata (external link) show that 84 per cent enjoy school. But there is also a large majority who are bored, and over half report that they are often or very often stressed by school work. The few pupils who have turned up for homework help today are not in doubt; getting help with school work is just a bonus. Maria Sanchez is a trained hairdresser. Now she is taking up subjects from upper secondary school to study to become a social worker. Photo: Marte Skodje / news – I think that all help is good help, and I have mentioned it to others so that they can also come. I don’t think it’s embarrassing, I actually think it’s nice, says Maria Sanchez. – It’s just stupid for yourself if you don’t ask for help when you need it, says Bertine Lygre. Published 13.09.2024, at 17.14
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Fewer students will have homework help from the Red Cross – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
