Warning about red level in schools: –

In the uncertain and growing contagion situation that emerged after Christmas and New Years, the government chose to recommend that all upper secondary and upper secondary schools in the country go to the red level until January 19.

In practice, this means, among other things, a greater use of homeschooling, because fewer students may be in school at the same time. At the same time, they also recommended that indoor leisure activities for children and young people should not be started in the same period.

– We are concerned about the total burden that children and young people now have to bear, both in terms of restrictions on education and participation in various social spheres. We believe that the consequences of the measures for children and young people are now too great, both in the short and long term, says child ombud Inga Bejer Engh to Dagbladet.

The government warns: – Be prepared

– An intervention

In a letter dated January 12, it requests that the national recommendation for a red level for all upper secondary schools and upper secondary schools not be followed up when the government this weekend evaluates the new measures.

At the same time, the Ombudsman for Children believes that organized leisure activities, sports activities and cultural events for children and young people should be allowed when the pressure of infection indicates that it is justifiable.

– The government has set itself the goal of keeping the burden of action for children and young people as low as possible. So the government must make sure that this becomes a reality. We believe that a decision on the red level in schools should be made locally and viewed in relation to infection rates in the relevant area, Engh says.

Although the government introduced the red level as a recommendation, the ombud believes that many have interpreted it as an order.

– I question the recommendation to go from the yellow to the red level, and that it be done regardless of the contagion pressure in the individual municipality. Even in areas with very little infection. That surprised me. Measures against children should not be based on a precautionary principle, but it is quite obvious that this is what has been done here, when this is introduced at the national level without knowing anything about contagion at the individual level, says Engh and continues :

– It is a violation of the rights of the child to go to the red level. There is no doubt that the decision to switch from yellow to red is detrimental to students’ right to education, and its introduction must be necessary and proportionate. This measure should not be used more than is strictly necessary.

– Critical

She says authorities should have learned of the consequences of the school’s closure last year.

– In March sleepy us that there were negative consequences of homeschooling, now veterinary we do. We now have knowledge about the use of homeschooling and no matter what background you have, it can have negative consequences for multiple children. As learning is lost, loneliness increases, social disparities increase, and support services pick up fewer vulnerable children.

– For children and young people in particularly vulnerable situations, less education and follow-up in school can be critical.

Characterizes many

Engh believes that many are also affected by the fact that the structure of everyday life is broken.

– For example, children of secondary school age who are not defined as vulnerable, but who depend on the structure. You hear about young people logging into teaching, bribing, and going to do something else.

Others are also characterized by difficult home conditions or by living in crowded conditions, says the children’s ombudsman.

– The learning train for children, goes now. And it goes as fast now as before the crisis.

– We are concerned that training is not the same, and that students lose much of the training and monitoring to which they are entitled. Such interference in the right to education places strict demands on justification.

Nakstad on a vacation in the south: – There is hope

In Oslo, secondary schools and upper secondary schools have been at a red level since November. At a press conference related to the launch of the mass vaccination on Thursday, Johansen said that this measure will likely continue beyond January 21.

– I had to act fast

Education Minister Guri Melby tells Dagbladet that the measures the government introduced on January 4 came because it was important to control a growing infection after people had traveled a lot over the Christmas and New Years weekend. .

– We had to act fast when the infection increased.

When it comes to vulnerable children, it is the case that students with special needs should be offered physical school even when there is a red level of measures, Melby emphasizes.

New limits: – Scandal

– Do you plan to continue the recommendation beyond January 19?

– The government will decide on other infection control measures over the weekend. Because we do not want to implement more measures than strictly necessary, the new measures will arrive soon. We must pay attention to the pressure of infection while protecting vulnerable children as much as possible.

– What do you think about what the Ombudsman describes and concerns?

– I share the concern of the Ombudsman for Children that infection control measures may come at the expense of the quality of education and monitoring of the psychosocial environment for children and young people. Therefore, we are in close dialogue with municipalities and state administrators (formerly the county governor) about the best way to follow up with children and youth in need. At the same time, we must think about the medical consequences when we introduce any measure, Melby tells Dagbladet.