Asks the state to contribute – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
The first two weeks of the summer holidays, a summer school was arranged in Oslo. At Lusetjern school in Holmlia, Tiril (8) participated in the math course «Fun with measurement». Tiril says that the most fun thing she got to do during the course was to make a popcorn catapult.
– We made a catapult and then we put in popcorn, and then we shot it out and measured how far it came, Tiril says.
Massin (11), Johan (13) and Syver (11) participated in the course “Try French”, but they are the only ones who said that the most fun was playing basketball in the free minutes.
– And yesterday we had a picnic like that, and then we played, says Massin.
Syver encourages other children to go to summer school.
– You get the chance to meet new friends and learn things, without being hindered by the end of school, Syver says.
– Simply sad
Not all children have the opportunity to attend summer school this summer.
In connection with the corona pandemic last year, the Solberg government allocated NOK 500 million for new establishments or expansions of the summer school offer for pupils in primary and lower secondary school. The funds have not been continued by the Støre government this year.
For Alta municipality, this means that there will be no summer school, under the auspices of the municipality this year.
– This year we had needed those funds more than ever. Now the corona, at least the closures, are largely over, says Culture Leader in Alta municipality Tor Helge Reinsnes Moen.
Moen says it is now about getting back into activity and getting a normal state again.
– I think it is very unfortunate that you can not set aside the same amount this year, as last year. I think in and of itself that you should do it every single year, because the holiday season is long, says Moen.
Moen says Alta municipality has not managed to raise municipal money for summer school and other holiday offers.
– It will simply be sad on behalf of the children who now have a long holiday ahead of them, who may not all experience as very holiday-like, says Moen.
Nor has Nordre Follo municipality found funds for summer school this year, says Arnfinn Almås, municipal manager for Upbringing and learning in Nordre Follo municipality.
– It is about that we must prioritize the statutory tasks that roll and go, and then we did not find room to continue the measure, even though it was very positive for those who participated, says Almås.
– Would you like to receive funding for summer school this year as well?
– Yes, on behalf of the children and young people who have been affected by a pandemic for over a year, it would have been very positive to have summer school, and contributed to more activity and social interaction, now that it is possible, says Almås.
Want a stable, predictable support scheme
Oslo Municipality has arranged summer school since 2006, without state funds. Therefore, the absence of state funds for summer school this year has not affected Oslo, says City Councilor for Upbringing and Knowledge in Oslo Sunniva Holmås Eidsvoll (SV).
– What we could wish for is a much more stable and predictable state support scheme for the summer schools, says Eidsvoll.
– Why should the state provide more support for summer school?
– The summer school is very important to extract variety and contribute to meaningful activities for children and young people in the summer, when the ordinary school is closed, says Eidsvoll.
Eidsvoll says the municipalities have limited funds to invest in summer school.
– If we get more money from the state, it will undoubtedly help to provide a better summer for many children and young people, says Eidsvoll.
Need to earmark funds
Earlier this year, the Conservatives and the Liberals submitted a proposal to the Storting to continue models from last year with funds for summer school. The proposal was voted down.
– It is a pity that the Støre government did not continue our support for summer school. What we saw was that this triggered a huge number of positive activities in over 200 municipalities, it contributed to voluntary sports teams receiving income, it contributed to many children having exciting summer activities, says Liberal Party leader Guri Melby.
Melby says that when the state does not allocate this money, most municipalities that had summer school last year do not have summer school this year.
– This shows that if we want summer school in as many of the country’s municipalities as possible, then the state will have to earmark funds for it. Unfortunately, the Støre government has not done that, and that means that many children will have a heavier summer this year than they had last year, says Melby.
Ministry of Education and Research: Should decide locally
State Secretary in the Ministry of Education Halvard Hølleland (Labor Party) points out that the Solberg government itself did not choose to continue these funds in the 2022 budget when they presented the state budget in October last year.
– Nor did the new government put in funds for summer school from the state budget. What the new government did was to prioritize increasing the municipalities in general, so that each municipality can decide for themselves whether they want to arrange summer school or have other summer activities for children and young people in their municipality, says Hølleland.
– But for some municipalities, such as Alta, the municipal finances are not enough to arrange summer school. What do you think about it?
– With the exception of 2021, which was an extraordinary year after the pandemic, the state has not normally subsidized or set aside money to arrange summer school in the municipalities, says Hølleland.
Hølleland says it has always been the municipalities’ task to find funds for summer activities or summer school.
– It is something that must be prioritized and seen towards other tasks. This government has strengthened the municipal economy significantly in the short time we have ruled, but we believe it is something you should decide locally and not from the state, whether you should have summer school or not, says Hølleland.