The matter in summary Vest-Telemark secondary school has received a refusal from the National Roads Administration on its application to continue with snowmobile courses. The reason for the refusal is that the school does not offer studies related to reindeer or reindeer husbandry. The school has organized snowmobile courses for 17 years and many companies depend on these courses to be able to use snowmobiles as work tools. Statkraft Energi expresses concern about the consequences of discontinuing the course activities. The complaint from the school is now on the Road Directorate’s table for processing. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content has been reviewed by news’s journalists before publication. Principal Siv Reidun Eide at Vest-Telemark secondary school is informed about the rejection of the application to the Norwegian Road Administration. – I think the reasoning that we have to offer something with reindeer or reindeer husbandry in order to hold these courses is very special. Organized courses for 17 years For 17 years, the upper secondary school has offered courses in snowmobiling. Pupils and employees in companies that use snowmobiles as work tools have taken part in the courses. After passing the course, the participants have received the letter S in their driver’s licence, the visible proof that they are allowed to drive snowmobiles. – There have never been any problems related to this, until we now had to apply for new permission to organize these courses, says Eide Principal Siv Reidun Eide at Vest-Telemark secondary school. Photo: Private The reason is that the teacher who has been responsible for the snowmobile courses is joining the ranks of the pensioners. – We therefore found another teacher who has the necessary approvals to be in charge of the course. But it is not the new course manager who is the problem, according to the response from the Norwegian Road Administration. – Nature use and reindeer herding In the response to the application, the Norwegian Road Administration writes that there must be a close connection between the school’s existing activities and the content of the training. – For example, this could be study offers within nature management or reindeer husbandry, writes case manager Jon Baal. He says to news that if the school had applied to run training exclusively for its own pupils, the situation would have been different. – Then it would have been sorted under the Education Act and the Swedish Road Administration had nothing to do with it, says Baal. – But why did the school get permission from the Swedish Road Administration to organize these courses in 2006? – You mustn’t ask me that. Perhaps such permission should not have been given at the time, says Baal. Consequences for Statkraft Maintenance manager Halvor Haugland in Statkraft Energi believes that a discontinuation of the course activities could have consequences for the operation of the local power plants. – It is not only those who engage in reindeer herding who use snowmobiles as work tools. We at Statkraft are completely dependent on snowmobiles to maintain and operate the power stations in winter. If the course offer at the upper secondary school in Dalen is taken off the poster, he fears the consequences. – We will not have an acute problem now, but in the longer term it will be difficult for us if we do not get access to more people with driving licenses for snowmobiles, says Haugland. The Directorate of Roads has the last word Mayor Jarand Felland in Tokke municipality, where the high school is located, also reacts shaking his head to the Road Administration’s conclusion. Mayor Jarand Felland in Tokke. Photo: Roy Hilmar Svendsen / news – I am surprised by the reasoning. I also register that the application has been processed by Tilsyn nord in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. It is conceivable that they are not familiar with the conditions and the need for snowmobiles in our part of the country. The complaint from Vest-Telemark secondary school is now on the Road Directorate’s table. – The case is being processed and I hope it will not take too long before we have made a decision, says department director Ingrid Margritt Heggebø Lutnæs.
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Snowmobile course at Vest-Telemark secondary school is threatened by reindeer claims – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
