– I stress quite a lot. I couldn’t work alone at home. I tried, but it didn’t work, says Sivana Ali at Fyllingsdalen school. She is one of many students at secondary schools in Bergen who use the autumn holidays to make up for some of what was lost after the long teachers’ strike. Several schools have brought in substitutes and students to help them with subjects. The money comes from the teachers’ salaries that were not paid during the strike. Pupil: – Lots to do It was Vestland county council that encouraged the secondary schools to offer a school program during the holidays. But since the teachers’ strike was called off just before, only 6 out of 14 secondary schools in Bergen got it. One of the schools that brought in extra resources during the holidays is Bergen Cathedral School. Here they have offered professional help in all subjects. At most, around 60 pupils have visited. – I know we have a lot to do. That’s why we have to work faster than last year, says first class Håvard Løvlid. Principal Karen Kristine Rasmussen says they try their best when it comes to the teaching offer. – The students are a third party who has lost something, so we must together try to compensate as best we can, says Rasmussen. DØRLEGARE TID: First class student Håvard Løvlid. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen – Making amends for the consequences of the strike Norwegian county municipalities that were affected by the strike have saved millions on the salaries the teachers should have received, according to figures news has received from the counties: Troms and Finnmark: NOK 14 million Trøndelag: NOK 20 million Viken: NOK 43 million Vestfold and Telemark: NOK 7 million Vestland: NOK 40 million. A unanimous Vestland county council decided to give this money back to the schools and it is these funds that are now used for substitute and student salaries. Most of the teachers are positive that the students get more professional help, but not everyone agrees on the method, says leader of the Education Association in Bergen, Bente Myrtveit, – Many teachers will be frustrated by what we perceive as a remedy for the consequences of the strike, says Myrtveit . Myrtveit says she understands that teachers feel that the strike was of no use. She adds that it is nevertheless difficult to attack the fact that pupils voluntarily receive social and academic offers. – The offers they put in place are not a replacement, they are an addition. Among other things, news has asked the Ministry of Education whether they think it is okay for schools to spend teacher salaries on extra offers, temporary workers and students. Education Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) does not wish to be interviewed about the matter. Bente Myrtveit of the Education Association in Bergen believes that many teachers can be frustrated by the method the schools use. Photo: Lidvard Sandven / news County mayor: – I understand the teachers – I have the greatest understanding for the frustration the teachers feel, says county mayor Jon Askeland (Sp). He emphasizes that they did not take an active part in the strike, but that their motivation was to help the pupils. news is informed that only a small part of the pot has gone to the scheme during the autumn holidays. The rest can therefore be divided over the course of the school year if necessary. The schools are encouraged to establish services such as homework help, themed courses, increased teacher density and more holiday schools. This is according to the department director for training and competence in Vestland county municipality, Bjørn Lyngedal. Askeland says that the county will also invest large resources in helping the pupils according to an agreement between the county administration and the head union. – The capacity challenge is to have enough human resources to meet the students’ needs both academically and psychosocially. County mayor Jon Askeland (Sp) leads the county council, which decided that the salary should go back to the schools. Photo: Paul André Sommerfeldt Motivated While the discussion goes over their heads, the pupils at Fyllingsdalen school sit and work their way through maths and physics, with good help from the teachers. – I think it’s going well, but there will be a bit of extra work due to strikes and such, says Sivana. – But you are motivated to do it? – Yes. To get good results, you have to work, Sivana asserts. HOLIDAY TEACHING: Substitute teacher Jon Sverre Dyrkolbotn uses the autumn holidays to teach primary school pupils. Here he and Sivana solve a puzzle together. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news
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Sivana (16) is at school in the autumn holidays to make up for what was lost after the strike – news Vestland
