On Wednesday, the main committee for education in Innlandet county municipality dealt with the school structure issue in the county. But before the politicians could start the meeting properly, they felt compelled to address the many protesters who stood outside the meeting room. Main committee leader Joakim Ekseth had to take a break a few minutes after the meeting started to go out and meet the young people who had gathered outside the county hall. The county committee felt compelled to postpone the planned meeting to greet the demonstrators. Here, main committee leader Joakim Ekseth greets one of those present. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news Two secondary schools, Dokka and Skarnes, and four schools, Lom, Dombås, Nordstumoen and Flisa, have been proposed to be closed by the county administration. The majority in the county council, consisting of the Labor Party, the Conservative Party and MDG, have made adjustments to the proposal. They are in favor of closing Dokka and Skarnes VGS, as well as the Dombås, Lom, Flisa and Sønsterud schools. It has created many reactions. It was this proposal that was adopted by eight votes in the main committee this morning. A comprehensive amendment proposal from the opposition (SV, V, Sp, KrF, PP, R and INP) regarding, among other things, postponing the case, received four votes, while an alternative proposal from the Frp received one vote. An alternative proposal from the FRP, to introduce free school choice and let the funding follow the student, received one vote. The matter will now be dealt with in the county committee next Friday and finally decided in the county council on 23 October. The politicians thanked for their commitment The meeting started at 09.00, and a number of demonstrators turned up in front of the county hall. According to OA, four buses with pupils from Dokka have traveled to Hamar to protest against the plans to close Dokka VGS. They also had a signature campaign with them which they delivered to the committee. Both SV’s Bjørnar Tollan and Frps’s Marit Ophus thanked the young people for their commitment. – I got tears in my eyes. The commitment is enormous and we greatly appreciate that, says Marit Ophus (Frp). Bjørnar Tollan thanks all the young people who have turned up outside and says they give the politicians a good framework to discuss the matter and to see that this is about individuals, local communities and development in the whole of society. The County Committee in the Interior has a meeting on Wednesday. One of the issues on the agenda is the future school structure in the county. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news But the students’ involvement did not change the majority’s decision to adopt the closure proposal. Ingrid Tønseth Myhr from Ap believes school policy is about more than numbers and structures. She says far too many people are left out today and that they must solve that challenge together with the parties in working life. She says she is optimistic. – We take responsibility. We take action. It’s long overtime. We want to give students the opportunity to have their first choice fulfilled. Bente Fossum from Sp asked questions from the podium about what kind of life it will be for the young people who have longer journeys. – This is something I believe leads to forced relocation of young people in dormitories. The students at Skarens have signaled that they may not be able to bear this and may end up dropping out, she says. Joakim Ekseth (H) says they cannot continue with the cheese grater as they are doing now. Then several school sites will be left with few lines. Then they have no real choice. – If we manage to gather in a few fewer places, then it will make it possible to live in the surrounding districts and travel to the regional centers and keep the housing structure in the interior, as we all want, he says. The school case arouses strong emotions The declining number of students in secondary education in the county is the reason why it is now proposed to close schools and school sites. In the Debate on Tuesday evening, county mayor Thomas Breen explained to the viewers that the county has now reached a crossroads. – The reason why we are standing here now is a population trend where the interior is aging first in the country. In the last ten years, we have had 3,500 fewer pupils in our schools, Breen said. On Monday evening, over 1,000 people turned up during a torchlight procession at Dokka to mark their opposition to the closure proposal. Ten years ago, Innlandet had 15,000 students, according to Breen. Now there are 11,700. All the school sites have passed. Breen pointed out that Innlandet County Council has cut line offers over several years, but that continuing to close single lines will take away students’ options and crumble competence environments from teachers. In the Debate, Breen clarified that he does not like closing schools. The school matter will be dealt with at an extraordinary county committee on Friday. On 23 October, the case will be finalized in the county council. Read more about the school dispute in Innlandet: Published 16.10.2024, at 09.52 Updated 16.10.2024, at 12.04
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Pupils from Dokka protest against the closure of secondary schools in front of the county hall in Hamar – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
