The case in summary: Six secondary schools in the interior are to be closed, and over 700 pupils are to be moved to new schools. The change is to take place from autumn 2025, but several county politicians question this timetable. Challenges such as a lack of dormitories and boarding schools, the need to upgrade school buildings, and the need for more buses and taxis will be pointed out. There is also concern that many students will be forced to move to dormitories, something that could create a class divide, according to Raudt. The business community is critical of the plans, especially when it comes to accepting students as apprentices for four years. Joakim Ekseth (H), leader of the main committee for education, believes there is both time and space to implement the plans. And that they can adjust the plans along the way. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. After much discussion, protests and torchlight processions, it was decided that Innlandet County Council closes two secondary schools and four schools in the county. According to the plan, the change will already take place when the bells ring for a new school year in autumn 2025. Over 700 pupils will thus have a new place to change in less than a year. Unrealistic schedule, many think. Questioning the timetable Several county politicians questioned this timetable when the matter was discussed in the county council last week. Venstre, the Center Party and Raudt tell news that they do not understand how the county council will have everything in place by the autumn. – We do not have premises to receive new students in several places. No zoning plans are ready, no buildings have been planned. Many students, who are not ready for it, are forced to move to dormitories where the device is not ready, says Ketil Kjenseth from Innlandet Venstre. – Here there will be a battle for the desks. I think we will face challenges in getting classrooms, dormitories, buses, drivers and, not least, increasing the need for taxis next autumn. Alternative training models are also not anchored in the business world, says Aud Hove, from Innlandet Senterparti. – There is a lot of work to be done and I cannot understand how we will find time for everything. I also fear that there will be a big class divide between those who can afford to move to a dormitory and those who cannot, says Svein Birger Ørsnes, who is a member of the county council for Raudt. Many fought for Dokka secondary school, but now it is being closed down. Photo: Stine Bækkelien / news Joakim Ekseth (H), head of the main committee for education, believes it is both time and place. – The most important thing is that a decision is in place. Now the work begins with detailed planning of the implementation. I think most things will fall into place, and we have already taken care of something, says Ekseth. Read his entire response further down in the article. Boarding schools, buses and investments in buildings In the case papers from the county council, there is a list of what needs to be in place when 700 pupils are to be moved from the six schools that are being closed down. Among other things, the politicians expect that many of the young people will have to move to dormitories or boarding schools. We need more buses. And many of the school buildings that will receive pupils also need upgrading. Svein Birger Ørsnes from Raudt questions the plans to build boarding schools at Otta, Vinstra and Våler. And how to get this in place in nine months. – I recently checked how many flats are available at Vinstra. There are five pieces, and many of them are expensive, says Ørsnes. The county council meets again in December. Then, according to Ørsnes, they must decide which lines and offers the young people will be able to apply for next year. The main reason for this is that the application deadline for further education is 1 March. – There is an incredible amount of uncertainty here. Many are unsure about choirs and what they can apply for, and is there room for them? There is almost no chance of making this happen, says Ørsnes. Here is the overview of what the county council must have in place: Dokka secondary school: Dokka has 266 pupils and it is expected to save NOK 141 million over ten years by closing the school. It is expected that the pupils will apply to Gjøvik secondary school, while the schools at Raufoss, Lena-Valle, Lillehammer and Valdres may also be relevant. There is a need for four extra buses and the county council estimates that it is unlikely that there will be many more dormitories. They think a travel distance of four miles one way is acceptable. It is essential to invest in new buildings at Raufoss secondary school and adaptations at other schools with a cost of between NOK 25-33 million. The educational offer Technology and industrial subjects will be continued at Dokka and organized as an alternative training model in collaboration with local businesses. It must be placed administratively under Raufoss vgs. Skarnes secondary school: Skarnes has 177 pupils and it is expected to save NOK 197 million over ten years by closing the school. It is expected that the pupils apply to Øvrebyen and Sentrum secondary schools in Kongsvinger. There is a need for three extra buses and the county council estimates that it is unlikely that there will be many more dormitories. More pupils will have longer journeys, but the county council estimates that it is unlikely that there will be many more dormitories. It is essential to invest in new buildings at Sentrum further school for the relocation of Building and Construction Technology from Skarnes. In addition, there will be adaptations and together these investment costs will amount to between NOK 45 – 57 million. Until the new building is ready at Sentrum, the building and construction engineering will not be moved until 2027/28. Solør secondary school, department Flisa: Flisa has 111 students and it is expected to save NOK 105 million over ten years by closing the school. It is expected that the pupils apply to Elverum secondary school, as well as the two schools in Kongsvinger; Upper town and Centre. There is a need for two extra buses and the county council estimates that it is unlikely that there will be many more dormitories. They think a travel distance of four miles one way is acceptable. It is necessary to rebuild something at other schools, but to a lesser extent. The investment costs will be approximately NOK 2 million. Nord-Gudbrandsdal secondary school, department Lom: Lom has 90 pupils and it is expected to save NOK 54 million over ten years by closing the school. It is expected that the pupils apply to Otta and Vinstra secondary schools. There is a need for two extra buses and the county council estimates that a good number of the pupils will move to dormitories. Some of the students will have to travel a distance of over 80 kilometers by road. It is recommended to consider and build a new boarding school in Otta. No investment costs are estimated here. Rebuilding at Otta and Vinstra secondary schools will cost approximately NOK 2 million. A pilot project in building and construction engineering is being set up in Lom in collaboration with LO/NHO/KS/municipalities/Y board and local business, where the students will be out in business for four years. Solør secondary school, department Sønsterud: Sønsterud has 58 pupils and it is expected to save NOK 24 million over ten years by closing the school and moving the provision to Våler. The offer will be moved to Våler and it is assumed that today’s applicants to Sønsterud will apply to Våler. The distance between Sønsterud and Våler is two miles, and the county council believes that there is no need for extra buses since there is a bus from Flisa to Våler today, via Sønsterud. It is necessary to rebuild something in terms of garage capacity for large vehicles/machines. This will cost NOK 12–19 million. In addition, the idea is to build a boarding school for 40 pupils at Våler. The estimated investment cost is NOK 65 – 80 million. Nord-Gudbrandsdal secondary school, department Dombås: It is expected to save NOK 112 million over ten years by closing the school. An education offer was not started this school year, but in the 2023/24 school year there were 32 students at the school. It is assumed that the young people from the area apply to Otta and Vinstra secondary schools. Møre and Romsdal are positive about entering into an agreement with pupils from Lesja municipality that they can apply to Rauma secondary school. Many of the pupils from Lom come here to Otta to apply, according to the county council. How long it will take to get boarding school in place, or how much it will cost, is still uncertain. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth Critical industry When building trades in Lom disappear, the county council will have a pilot project within building and construction technology in Lom in collaboration with LO/NHO/KS/municipal/Y board and local business. The students will then be out in business for four years. Svein Birger Ørsnes, county council member from Raudt, also wonders how the companies will be able to prepare for this. – I am very excited about what the county director presents at our December meeting. The companies must accept apprentices for four years, and there is no “quick fix” to make it happen, he says. Jan Christensen, day-to-day manager of the carpentry company Stokk og Stein in Lom, is critical of the decision and the dialogue with the county council. – We have not had any dialogue. I have spoken to 38 businesses in the immediate area here, and I am critical of the fact that we will accept 15-year-olds for four years without them having gone to school first. We are not teachers, says Christensen. He says that there is a big difference between accepting an immature 15-year-old and a 17-year-old who has had a basic introduction to carpentry. – Bringing in someone who cannot turn up and down on a ruler, the basics of HSE and tools will be too demanding for us. The county council would like to tell us what they have in mind, but I don’t understand how we are going to make this happen, says Christensen. I think it’s both space and time. Ekseth has not answered how long it will take to build a boarding school at Otta or Vinstra. The students from Sønsterud will live at the boarding school until a new one at Våler is ready. Joakim Ekseth, head of the main committee for education, believes there is room for the pupils and enough time. Photo: Inger Johanne Solli / news – We are looking at several solutions when it comes to boarding, explains Ekseth. He says that they will also take steps to ensure that those who are going to dormitories have a smooth transition. – You can get a grant from the State’s loan fund, which has increased significantly, and in addition you can get a county municipal homelessness scheme. Funds have also been set aside for home journeys for those who live away. We try to do it so that there is the least possible extra cost to live away, says Ekseth. – Is there room for all the pupils who will be moved next year? – Until now, we have initiated offers for 1,800 more pupil places than there are pupils. We have now cut approximately 750 pupil places, so in this sense there is enough space in the county. But we won’t get the answer until we see what the students are searching for, says Ekseth. According to him, the structural decision is now in place and adjustments may then be made. He says the dialogue with the schools is underway this week. It may be appropriate to make adjustments after this, says Ekseth. When it comes to alternative training models in collaboration with local business, he believes that this is a wish from the industry to which the county council has responded. The committee leader says that many of the questions will be answered in the meeting for the county council which is 17-19. December. – If there is something that will be difficult to implement, we have to take a position on it and make a concrete assessment. In the December meeting, we will also discuss the admissions regulations, says Ekseth. Published 29/10/2024, at 15.40
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– Here there will be a battle for the desks – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
