– It is unreasonable that a date that is not clearly stated in the legislation should have such great personal, financial consequences, says Marius Stangeland. When the native of Rogaland had handed in his master’s degree and had finished as a student teacher, he did not know where to go. But he was curious about Northern Norway. When he saw in a job advertisement the opportunity to write down NOK 50,000 on his student loan in one year, he took the chance. Write-down of student loans is a good thing people who choose to live and work in the far north of Northern Norway have. Stangeland got a job as a teacher in the small village of Manndalen in Kåfjord in Nord-Troms. He packed his things and started the northern Norwegian adventure on 1 January last year. – I didn’t do it just for financial reasons. But everything that has happened afterwards has created a bit of an aftertaste, he says. Marius Stangeland and his wife Maria had many great experiences in the north. Missed 15 days of work – I had great colleagues. And the village has some of the finest that Norway can offer, with the Lyng Alps and fantastic hiking opportunities, says Stangeland. He moved with his wife Maria Laura from Venezuela. The contrast from the South American heat to the small village with minus 20 degrees was too great. When Stangeland was offered a doctoral position in Oslo, he therefore chose to accept – with a staggered start so that he ensured that he had worked in Manndalen for a year. Maria Laura was not used to the snow, the dark and the cold. The best thing for the couple was to look for a job further south in the country. Photo: private The surprise was therefore great when he had to apply for a write-down of the student loan for the year in the north. – I was refused. It came like lightning out of the blue for me, and I became angry and frustrated. Stangeland had submitted his master’s thesis in December, and started work on 1 January. But according to Lånekassen, the official date for the end of studies in the autumn semester is 15 January. Because of the two weeks, the newly qualified teacher lost NOK 50,000. The exam can confuse Anette Bjerke is director of communications at Lånekassen. She explains that the date comes from the fact that student loans are granted from mid-August until the start of the spring semester, which is 15 January. – The students receive a payment in December which is intended to last until the start of the next semester. You cannot have your debt canceled for the same period for which you receive an interest-free loan, says Bjerke. Anette Bjerke is communications director at Lånekassen. She advises others who will be studying in the measure zone to read the conditions carefully. Photo: Hege Aas She acknowledges that it can cause confusion about when the autumn semester is over, as the exams finish in December. – There are many people who think that they are finished by Christmas when they have taken their exams. At least when they have completed their entire education. But she refers to the decision students receive when they have applied for a loan, which states the period for which the support applies. Could you live and work in Northern Norway? Yes, always dreamed of it! Yes, and I do! It’s too cold. No, it doesn’t suit me. Show result Several people have experienced the same thing. Stangeland contacted a lawyer and appealed the decision, but has now been finally refused. – I understand that there must be a set of regulations. But I think it must be made clearer when you are considered a student. Because that date is not easy to find. Now he urges other recent graduates who will be working in the measure zone to be extra careful and careful with the rules and laws for writing down student loans. – And have a little margin of safety!, urges Marius Stangeland. Odd Harald Fagerli is headmaster at Manndalen School. He says they spend a lot of energy on understanding the rules for writing down student loans in the measure zone. Photo: Øystein Antonsen The headmaster at Manndalen school, Odd Harald Fagerli, recruits many newly qualified teachers from the south. The possibility of writing down student loans is a good thing that helps the municipality to fill teaching positions. But it has also meant that he has particularly familiarized himself with the rules. Nevertheless, he too had an aha experience from Marius Stangeland’s refusal. – He has been very unlucky. After all, he had all the papers that he was done. Now we have learned something new about this too, says Fagerli. Beautiful nature, clever and nice people are arguments for moving north, says Marius Stangeland. Photo: private No regrets about the move Even though the year in the north has taken on a bit of an aftertaste for Marius Stangeland, he does not feel that the year was wasted. – I learned a lot, and gained a lot from that year with good colleagues. But the plan was never to stay in Manndalen forever. – It wasn’t quite right for us. But it was a very good year. Hey!Hey!Did you think of anything when you read this story, or do you have tips for other stories we should tell? Send me an email! Published 24/08/2024, at 21.37
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Marius Stangeland missed the write-down of student loans in the measure zone – news Troms and Finnmark
