– This is dramatic. We have discussed whether we have to close down the junior high school. Another consequence could be that we have to fire teachers, says the principal at the Rudolf Steiner School in Oslo, Petter Moen. The headmaster at Steinerskolen in Oslo, Petter Moen, wonders if the government wants free schools to die. Photo: news He rents one of around 150 schools that will be affected by the government’s new measures against independent schools. In the state budget, a cut of half a billion is proposed. The savings must be phased in over five years. Around NOK 50 million will be cut next year. – This will mean NOK 4-5 million less in support for us, says Moen. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre himself has benefited from the alternative pedagogy at the school located at Hovseter in Oslo. He and his wife Marit Slagsvold have made no secret of the fact that they have sent their own children there. Today they have grandchildren at school. – The free school to the left Principal Petter Moen reacts to the fact that the government is simultaneously tightening its grip on the free schools. – It is disappointing. The Labor Party has become so preoccupied with ideology that they think that generosity is not that important. They often invest in youth and equality, but in this case they tighten their grip. Moen does not hide the fact that many teachers and parents at the Steiner School have traditionally belonged to the political left. Now he hopes there has been a mistake. – I think Støre wants us well and that he has not realized the consequences of this change. CRAFTS: The Steiner School is preoccupied with crafts, art subjects and using the hand in front of a screen. He invites Støre to a talk at school. – He can join the tenth graders who make jewelery in the forge or the juniors in our school garden. Then I will explain to him how the cuts affect our economy. – Getting too much today The Prime Minister’s office has declined an interview and is referring to the Ministry of Education. State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Synnøve Mjeldheim Skaar (Ap), says she believes that combined children’s and youth schools have received too much support until now. – Private schools receive an extra subsidy for the first 42 pupils. When we had a review of the funding system, we discovered that the schools that are combined children’s and youth schools have received this subsidy twice. It is not in line with the intention. According to KD, there are several examples of independent schools that receive far more in support per pupil than public schools. Private schools/free schools Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news 4.6 per cent of pupils in primary school attend private schools. 9 per cent of pupils in secondary schools go to private schools. A majority of the private schools are approved on the basis of a philosophy of life or a recognized educational direction. These are often called freelancers. In recent years, several so-called profile schools have been established. The schools tend to focus on sports, science or entrepreneurship. Today’s government has stopped the possibility of setting up profile schools. They have also changed the name of the private school law to the private school law. The government has decided that considerable emphasis will be placed on the input of local politicians when someone applies to establish or change a private school. The state covers 85 per cent of a given subsidy base per pupil in private schools. – Unheard Leader of KrF, Olaug Bollestad, says the government contributes to weakening parents’ freedom of choice. – Støre had the right to choose, but at the same time stifles other parents’ right to choose a school for their children. It is unheard of. We expect all children to fit into the same mold in the public school. KrF leader, Olaug Bollestad, fears for the diversity in the school. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news – But is it right that independent schools should receive more support than public schools? – The free students don’t get any more. They get 85 percent of what the public school gets, and the rest they have to take in school fees. If one has to rely more on the parents, there will be a class divide. – May be forced to close Several places in the country are reporting concerns about the new cuts. – We don’t cry wolf, wolf. This is a real wolf for the parents and students whose school days are disrupted, says the principal at Møre children’s and youth school in Ålesund, Øystein Engås. Principal Øystein Engås at Møre children’s and youth school in Ålesund. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news He is shocked by the cut, and says the school with 169 pupils will have to close down in the worst case. Ingrid Kvam Steinshamn at FAU chose to live at the Christian free school when she moved from Bergen with her family. Now she is afraid the children will have to find another school. – We are actually just very uncertain about what is happening. Shall we say something to the kids now? Should we start planning that what we moved here for no longer exists? We are desperate. – Did this come like lightning from the blue? – Yes, it did. And we wonder if we are facing a very short and brutal process. Pupils at Møre children’s and youth school in Ålesund. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news The headmaster, Øystein Engås, calls for a consequence analysis. – We have no plan B. We must get this proposal postponed, and we must get our organizations involved in the conversation about how this will be financed. Because it can’t possibly be the intention to close down 150 school offers.
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Store sends his own children to Steinerskolen. Now the school despairs over independent school cuts – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
