The government will relieve tired teachers from the crown with students – VG

The proposal is so recent that it is not yet entrenched either in teachers’ unions or in universities and colleges. But the Minister of Education, Guri Melby (V), is determined that the measure is viable.

– Many teachers are tired after months in an extraordinary situation. Therefore, we intend to use significantly more students at work in schools to provide support and relief to teachers, says Guri Melby to VG.

You have noticed that two factors in particular are consuming teachers:

– First, the fear of infection. Second, many teachers and school staff have worked hard over a long period of time, describes the school minister, who has experience as a teacher for students and as a teacher for future teachers.

The leader of the largest teachers union, Steffen Handal, is positive about the proposal. It describes the work pressure at school in the crown era as much greater than many know.

– The situation is such that either more people have to be deployed in the school, or the supply has to be reduced. If not, I fear the house of cards will collapse, Handal illustrates.

Represents 183,000 teachers, kindergarten teachers, special educators, and school leaders in the Education Association. Handal’s report from Skole-Norge in mid-November 2020 is as dark as the season.

– We are in a very special situation. Then special measures are required. The situation is so precarious that I think we should be open to letting the teachers go at school, Handal tells VG. He assumes that the measure will be limited in time in relation to the pandemic and that systems will be created so that students do not bring the infection to schools.

Education Minister Guri Melby, together with his staff at the ministry, is looking for solutions to remedy the situation.

A general goal of the government during the fall has been to keep schools open. But it has cost. In many places, teachers’ daily lives have been unpredictable quarantine periods, modified levels of infection control, extensive absenteeism, and homeschooling.

– I am open to the fact that students who are not student teachers, for example in child welfare and environment work, should also be able to participate in schools in the future. Many students have lost their additional jobs in recent months. School jobs will also be a welcome replacement for many, says Melby.

She repeats what she has said several times before in response to the question of funding the additional measures.

– It shouldn’t be about money here. Directors should not limit the use of temporary staff and additional staff related to crown expenses. This must be compensated, says Melby.

– Can’t students experience that too much work goes beyond studies?

– Unlike many additional jobs, this practice will be very relevant at least for college student teacher training. Now the most important thing is that they have a lot to contribute. We need more heads and hands in schools, Melby emphasizes.

– Have you underestimated how tiring and laborious the Crown School became?

– No, I don’t mean that. It has been clear to me for a long time that this will be a marathon and not a sprint. My starting point is that this can last from one to two years. But this attitude has probably varied greatly. Not all schools have been equally well prepared, naturally. When three teachers are sick today and four new ones tomorrow, it’s not always easy to plan and replace staff, Melby illustrates.

Also remember that the situation and the pressure on schools vary. After a meeting with county governors on Wednesday, his take is that many schools in Oslo, Viken and Vestland are significantly under pressure than in other parts of the country.

Other adaptations may also be relevant for schools in areas with high infection pressure. The Minister of Education and Research is considering, for example, whether home training can be a solution for some pupils for shorter periods, also in schools with a yellow infection control level.

Furthermore, Guri Melby emphasizes that although the measures in the traffic light model may seem like recommendations and “measures of duty” for schools, in practice they are “measures of duty”.

– Some people think that supervisors are a bit lazy. But they are thought of as “mandatory measurements”, for example about distance, Melby emphasizes.

Pedagogstudentene leader Elise Klungtveit believes that the idea of ​​bringing master’s students to the crown school is a good one.

– Basically we are very positive to contribute to this. At the same time, there are a number of things that need to be in place before such an arrangement can be implemented, Klungtveit says. She believes that the income limit for students in the Loan Fund should be temporarily deviated.

– Then it is about what responsibility in the teaching school should be able to impose on the students. We envisage an accountability framework where a distinction is made between, for example, freshmen and students with four years behind them, the student leader tells VG.

His organization has around 20,000 members. Klungtveit estimates that it is relevant to have a few thousand student teachers who will be able to contribute in an extraordinary time for the schools to work there.

– It will also be important that this practice and extraordinary efforts do not go beyond studies, but can be combined with studies and at the same time become part of the relevant practice, says Klungtveit.