New help for struggling Utøya survivors
Earlier this week it became known that several of the young terror victims are struggling to complete school and studies. The problems also affects siblings and those who have lost close friends.
Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Kristin Halvorsen, and the Minister of Research and Education, Tora Aasland, met with representatives of the national support group, to discuss new measures to prevent children who survived Utøya from leaving school.
“The most important thing is that schools, counties, and campuses will tailor a program in relation to the individual student and encourage that all participate in something, even if they do not complete everything. So we’ll send a new letter to secondary schools, colleges and counties with information on how to handle this,” said Halvorsen to NRK.
Also, shortly after July 22, the Ministry send information to municipalities and counties with advice on crisis pedagogy.
“The new advice that will be sent out shortly will be more specific,” said the Minister.
“We get reports about things that work very well, but also that many people have met with harsh regulations. It is important to convey that schools have a high degree of flexibility in terms of students, both in terms of a final grade, and in terms of absenteeism,” said Halvorsen.
“For example, opportunities to study at home, or deliver tasks in a different way if there is comes day when a student cannot bear to be in large groups,” says the Minister.
The Government has already announced that they will change the rules in relation to the Student Loan Fund, so that students who are struggling after July 22 can easily get a financial break if they are ill.
Research and Education Tora Aasland encourages students to stay in school even if they are unable to study full time.
“It is crucial that we work together to minimize the potential for young people to drop out of school or stop studying. Having something normal in life helps when dealing with the dramatic things they have experienced,” says Halvorsen.
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