In summary, Emblem school lacks money to buy games, and teachers use their own money to cover the need. The government has stated that play should be given a bigger place in the classroom, but there is no earmarked money for this. At Eide in Hustadvika, parents have started a fundraising campaign to buy games for the school. The school principals’ association’s investigation shows that 60 percent of head teachers struggle with statutory duties due to financial pressures. Some parents are critical that they have to cover the costs of games, which they believe should be included in the budget. (The summary has been prepared by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication) – I cook, Nikoline Tennøy Ellingsvåg tells. On the table in front of her are food items and plastic saucepans. Teacher Sara Dahl has bought both the kitchen toys and all the toy animals in the drawer. When Emblem school in Ålesund was new in 2023, there was no money to buy games. At the same time, the children’s timetable states that they must have free play. – You get such a bad conscience because the curriculum calls for us to play more, says Dahl. The government has said that play should be given more space in the classroom for the youngest. Cars and car tracks are popular among the boys. This belongs to one of the teachers with adult children. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Has spent thousands Dahl has been in her mother’s attic and picked up her own toys from childhood, in addition to buying new ones. Other teachers have also donated Legos and cars that their children have grown out of. Parents have given away dress-up clothes. – I don’t know how much I have used. Maybe a few thousand, says the teacher. Sara has bought everything in the drawers. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news She does it with pleasure, but at the same time feels that it is a bit painful to spend her own money on what should be the municipality’s responsibility. The money goes to salaries Principal Jorun Fugløy Sundklakk does not feel good when the teachers spend their own money on the children. Now the school has gone on Facebook and asked for more games, because they themselves don’t have a penny to spare. – We get a framework that will cover salaries and all teaching materials and everything we need at school. We have to take what is required by law, says Sundklakk. Jorun Fugløy Sundklakk is principal at Emblem school. She believes that it can be an environmentally friendly benefit that games, games and books that are not used can be useful at school. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news There is also no more money to be had from Ålesund municipality. The municipality is in deficit and the list of cuts is long, and then they cannot spend money on games. – I think that most schools strive quite hard to be able to prioritize education for their pupils, and we think that is broken, says municipal manager for education, Hildegunn Pedersen. Struggle with statutory duties A survey by the School Principals’ Association shows that 60 per cent of head teachers respond that the economy is so tight that they struggle with statutory duties. Head Stig Johannessen believes it is the municipality’s responsibility to provide equipment for the school and not the teachers privately. Stig Johannessen is leader of the Association of School Leaders. Photo: Skolelederforbundet – It is idealistic that one wants to contribute, but it is the politicians’ task to arrange the conditions so that the school has the resources to solve the core tasks, says Johannessen. Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap) says that there is no earmarked money from the government to prioritize play. – It is possible to get a lot of play in the school even without the big cuts in the municipal budget, if the elected officials prioritize this, says Nordtun. The dress-up clothes at Emblem school have been donated by parents and villagers. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Parents are critical Emblem school is not alone in lacking equipment. In Hustadvika in Romsdal, a committed mother, Wenche Bergslid, has started a fundraising campaign at Spleis. She wants to buy more indoor games and games for the youngest pupils at Eide Skule, after the teachers asked for donations on Facebook. – There were some who thought that this should not be covered by parents and that it should be covered by money in the budget. Now it’s not like that, and then I choose to take action myself, says Bergslid. She has received NOK 25,000 and mainly comes to shop at thrift stores. Want dinosaurs In the classroom at Emblem, a whole group has dressed up in the dress-up clothes they have been given. Teacher Sara does not think parents are aware that the school cannot afford equipment. – They probably expect the school to have the resources, but we don’t. Many parents want to help, but they think it’s a bit strange, says Dahl. For Mikkel Pettersen-Hjelvik, several dinosaurs are at the top of his wish list. – We have three or four big ones, but there is a bit of an argument about them, says the first-grader. Through the role play, the children get their language stimulated, they learn conflict management and they build relationships. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Published 20.09.2024, at 16.09
ttn-69
Teacher Sara Dahl at Emblem school buys games for 1st grade with her own money – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
