– I went to school for two years in the good faith that I would have finished training as a gardener in a few months, so I am in despair, says Kristin Haustveit. With a view of the Sørfjord in the heart of Hardanger, the 29-year-old walks up the slopes and prunes the apple tree. – This is part of what I learned at the gardening school in Ulvik, says Haustveit. To take over the farm The construction engineer will now take over the orchard at Haustveit in Ullensvang. Then it’s a good idea to study part-time to become a gardener. – I am almost 30 years old, have a job and a family and will soon take over the farm. Then I thought it would be nice to take this education, says Haustveit. But the change that has been introduced in gardening education for adults may lead to the offer disappearing in Norway. Because now the pupils have to go to school for two years and then two years in an apprenticeship, which is virtually impossible for adults to do with a full-time job and family. There is room for 16 students on the gardening course at Hjeltnes in Ulvik. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Paid money Since 2019, it has been possible to take gardening training for adults in three cities in the country. Ulvik in Vestland, Søgne in Agder and Mære in Trøndelag. It is a three-year education for those over 25 that can be combined with regular work. Money has been allowed from the Ministry of Agriculture in the agricultural agreement for training to get more people to increase their skills and become gardeners. The popular course in Ulvik has room for 16 students each year. Kristin and the other students were now in the rush and expected to be gardeners before the summer. But in January they received a disappointing message. A mistake had been made and the pupils had been taught according to an old curriculum, which is no longer valid. Changes to professional certificates For 2020, it was decided that the training model for the horticultural subject should be changed from 3 years at school which gives vocational competence, to a subject with 2 years in school and 2 years in apprenticeship leading to a professional certificate. This came into force in the spring of 2022. Then it was no longer possible to implement the nursery school scheme in the same way as before. But the pupils in Ulvik did not receive information about the changes and were taught according to the old curriculum until January this year. Gathered at a team meeting on the PC are the gardening students who go in the Ulvik drawer. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Working for a solution The education is administered by Voss further school. The headmaster, Svein Inge Styve, admits that they have made mistakes. – Both Vestland County Council and the school are very sorry that we are in this situation, says Styve. He says that some uncertainty has in sum led to them being in this situation today. Now the school and the county council are trying to help the pupils. Among other things, they can register as private individuals to get their diploma. – We are applying to the Directorate of Education for a dispensation to be able to set a position grade, but it will take some time before it is processed, says the rector. In addition, they work to look at different ways so that the pupils can take vocational certificates. In any case, the students have to take five exams in a few months instead of one. Uncertain for future gardeners Most of those who have taken the course so far have full-time jobs, and it was therefore not possible to combine it with two years of apprenticeship, which is the new system. – I think we may be at a crossroads from next school year, says Styve. Now the three schools fear that the offer may be discontinued in Norway. Up to 70 per cent of those who have become gardeners today have used the scheme for adults. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food itself came out in 2022 and said that part-time childcare training was a successful scheme. – I take a dark view of the situation with educating gardeners in the future, says Styve. Among other things, the school in Agder does not wish to offer kindergarten training until the autumn unless changes are made. Principal, Svein Inge Styve at Voss secondary school. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Must look at the new model The Norwegian Farmers’ Union has itself helped develop the new training model, as they want competence in the industry, but in retrospect see that this has been unfortunate. – It is not to be taken for granted that the farmers’ association was part of the group and approved it, but we were not fully aware that this had a consequence for the training of young people, says Knut Byrkjenes Hauso of Vestland farmers’ association. He is afraid that the change will lead to applications being dropped. – I am worried about whether the offer will continue, and worried about whether we in the industry will be able to train good fruit growers in the future, says Byrkjenes Hauso. The scheme will now be evaluated. Then he hopes that people will look at all the consequences the change has had. Knut Byrkjenes Hauso in Vestland farm team. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Ed. Note: Despite the same surname, Knut Byrkjenes Hauso in Vestland bondelag and news’s reporter Tale Hauso are not related to each other.
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Have to take five exams instead of one bad school mistake – news Vestland
