The matter in summary Sara Ghuneim, a high school student from Porsgrunn, believes that the current absence rules create a negative learning environment and increase the stress level among students. Ghuneim expresses that many students feel pressured to attend school even when they are ill, in order to avoid undocumented absences on the certificate. The Norwegian Directorate of Education is proposing new absence rules which include removing the requirement for a doctor’s certificate for absences due to health reasons, and that all absences must apply. The student organization and Ghuneim are concerned about the proposed changes, and believe it could lead to more students failing upper secondary school and potentially dropping out. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I feel that today’s absence rules force us to come to school. The school becomes almost like a prison. Sara Ghuneim (17) from Porsgrunn has recently written a reader’s post in the newspaper Varden. She is dismayed by the current absence rules. They create a negative learning environment that increases the students’ stress level, she believes. Can’t afford a doctor’s note. She is one of those struggling with the absence limit. – If I feel ill, I feel pressured to go to school so as not to fail the subject. She says it is not that easy to get a medical certificate. – It is not as easy to get a medical certificate as it sounds. We already have a lot of stress at school, and getting a doctor’s note becomes more stressful. Not everyone can afford to pay up to NOK 400 for a message from the doctor. She says there are many students who struggle with the absence limit. – Figures such as percentages on the diploma cannot define who we are, how lazy or smart we are. The state is not taking this seriously, and it is time we tackled the problem. Do you think new absence rules will be better for students? Yes, I think the new rules will reduce absenteeism at school No, the new rules will not improve the situation for students Show result New absence rules on the stairs Pupils’ absences from school are increasing, according to figures from the Directorate of Education that were presented in September this year. The usual is eight days and six hours of absence. Education director Morten Rosenkvist says the new absence rules will ensure a safe and good school environment. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news The Norwegian Directorate of Education (Udir) is now proposing to remove the requirement for a doctor’s certificate for absences due to health reasons. At the same time, all absences must apply. – We are concerned that children and young people are attending school less. Being at school is important for pupils to learn, and for the school to create a good school environment where pupils are followed up both academically and socially. This is what director of Udir, Morten Rosenkvist, says in a press release. The aim of the new absence rule is increased attendance in training, less bureaucracy, good enough control and fair rules. These changes are proposed to remove the requirement for a doctor’s certificate for absences due to health reasons, and to introduce self-reporting for all absences. All absences must apply. In the current system, up to ten days can be deleted from the certificate. Udir proposes to remove this arrangement. The limit for when a student can lose a grade in the subject is increased from 10 to 15 per cent. Source: Directorate of Education – Absenteeism is a complex problem. The measures will support the schools in their work to create an inclusive, safe and good school environment, says Rosenkvist. – We are shocked. The proposals are now due for consultation. Among those who are already reacting is the Student Organization. They don’t mind that all absences count towards the 15 percent limit. – We are shocked that the directorate believes this is the solution to fixing the absenteeism problem, says deputy director Madelen Kloster. Madelen Kloster is deputy leader of the Student Organization. She is concerned about the proposal for new absence rules. Photo: Julianne Bråten Mossing / news If the proposed changes are introduced, more people will fail upper secondary school, she believes. – If the student misses one subject day in gym, it may be enough for the student to fail the subject. Think more people will drop out Back at Porsgrunn high school, Sara fears that the result will be that many people drop out. – I fear many students will not get the education they want. She is worried about whether she will finish her education. – I’m a little afraid of that. I think I can do it, but it means I have to put a lot of pressure on myself and my mental health, concludes Ghuneim. Lin Abunajem, Ebba Elvira Hornes and Sara Ghuneim often talk about the absence limit at school. Hi Thank you for reading. Do you have tips or input for this matter or other things we should write about? Feel free to send me an email! Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
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Thinks the absence limit makes the school a prison – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
