The Russian era continues in full force. At the same time, the absence reports are ticking in on schools all over the country. Many report higher absenteeism than before.
– DIFFICULT: Student council leader Margarita Tulinova Grimsby, for her part, has been to school every day during the Russian era. Photo: Bjørn Roger Brevik / TV 2
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– It is very difficult to get to school sometimes during the Russian era. We get sick quickly and get little sleep, says Margarita Tulinova Grimsby.
Think it is exploited
Grimsby is student council leader and now russ at Persbråten upper secondary school in Oslo. She thinks many people make a little too much use of the exception from the absence limit.
Due to the corona pandemic, Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Labor Party) introduced an exception from the absence limit in November last year. Students no longer need to see a doctor to document illness. In addition, she has canceled the exam for this year’s graduating litter.
– I think many people take advantage of it, and then I just hope it does not affect people’s grades, Grimsby says.
– SCHOOL VISIT: Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Labor Party) visited russ at Persbråten school. Photo: Thea Enerud Ødegården / TV 2
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At Persbråten school, the management has implemented measures to keep the Russians in the classroom during the Russian period. Among other things, the deadline for final assessment was postponed well into June, when the exam was canceled.
At the same time, the school works systematically to motivate the students to want to come.
– Here you brush your teeth and take a shower
At the main entrance, the principal therefore stands every morning and greets the students.
– We have been very clear on which guidelines apply – here you brush your teeth and take a shower when you get to school. Then we are here when they come, smile and give them the energy they need despite being tired, says principal Siw Børven-Moberg.
Børven-Moberg acknowledges that absenteeism has increased after the pandemic.
– It probably has something to do with the fact that you can report absence yourself, in a different way than before. It is probably difficult to balance for 18 and 19-year-olds. It is difficult to understand that it has other consequences, she says.
– The Minister of Education must take himself by the neck
Conservative deputy leader Henrik Asheim, on the other hand, believes that schools should not have to create “their own motivational assignments” to get students to school.
– Now the Minister of Education must take himself by the neck and reintroduce the absence limit. It has a lot to say now as all the external motivating factors to make sure that the students show up at school away, says Asheim.
– Easier to say that you are tired
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Brenna insists that the exception at the absence limit must remain.
– My impression is not that the absence is necessarily higher among Russians, but that it is a special school year and that it requires a little extra effort to get the students to go to school, she says and adds:
– EXCEPTION: Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Labor Party) will not reintroduce the absence limit in its entirety, but keep the exception. Photo: Thea Enerud Ødegården / TV 2
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– It is not the case that you do not have to show up even if the documentation requirement from the doctor has been changed this school year. You still have to show up to get grades.
– But you do not want to introduce measures to ensure that?
– Now it is a very short time left of the school year, now it is important to persevere towards the last sprint. I think a lot of good work is being done in many places to achieve this.
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