In the revised state budget, the government allocated NOK 75 million in extra subsidies to counteract the negative consequences of the pandemic in schools and kindergartens. Flat-distributed, this is about 75 kroner per child, but because the funds are distributed according to infection pressure at a given time, municipalities with late infection pressure do not receive anything. In addition, corona expenses from 1 January 2022 will not be compensated, even though the omicron in this period resulted in sky-high sickness absence. It does not make sense that no more is set aside for children and young people, or for compensation for expenses related to overtime in schools and kindergartens. The Korona Commission states that the infection control measures during the pandemic hit children and young people very hard. In some schools, teachers quickly lost touch with students. The young people struggled with motivation, and the schools registered a sharp increase in mental problems such as eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. In several schools, it gradually became difficult to identify vulnerable groups, because more and more belonged to this category. The Korona Commission has subsequently pointed out that the infection control measures in themselves made children and young people vulnerable. As one schoolteacher put it, “Everything unraveled around them.” Even after the pandemic, we see increased school refusal, impaired learning, lack of motivation, mental problems and stress in an increasing number of children and young people. The Ministry of Education and Research recently announced that they would appoint a committee to evaluate the situation for middle school and middle school students. The background is failing academic results, increasing screen time and declining physical activity. More and more students are also experiencing loneliness and worry about the future. The pandemic clearly showed that the school is unable to motivate the students. Many are bored and lack the motivation to complete schooling. Several drop out. This did not begin with the corona. The pandemic only reinforced an already existing trend. The corona generation needs proper measures, and they need them now. This means that we must have new positions in school and kindergarten, fewer students per teacher and more environmental workers and health nurses. If the measures are to have any effect, they must also be followed up with funds for, among other things, leisure activities and child welfare. The upper secondary school committee is a step in the right direction. Now the government must allocate the necessary funds to children and young people to follow up the work.
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The corona generation deserves better – Expression
