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Norway begins reopening pre-schools after month-long closure

Norway, which says it has the new coronavirus under control, on Monday started opening up pre-schools after a month-long closure, an AFP correspondent reported.

Published: 20 April 2020 09:01 CEST
Norway begins reopening pre-schools after month-long closure
Norway´s Prime Minister Erna Solberg holds a ginger bread house she was given by children from a local kindergarden visiting the Prime Minister´s office in Oslo, Norway on December, 12, 2019. AFP
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Authorities have said the reopening was possible because children have been less affected by COVID-19, although some parents have expressed reservations over the decision.

“Going to pre-school is safe,” Education Minister Guri Melby has repeated leading up to the reopening. 

However, as in neighbouring Denmark, a Facebook group called “My child should not be a guinea pig for COVID-19” has been created and an online petition objecting to the reopening has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures.

According to a poll published by broadcaster NRK over the weekend, 24 percent of parents did not want to send their children back to pre-school and 13 percent said they were unsure.

Pre-schools will have to ensure certain health protocols.

In particular, children under the age of three will have to be in groups of three under one adult's supervision. Those between three and six years old can stay in groups of six.

Along with Austria, Denmark and Germany, Norway is among the first countries to start easing restrictions, which were announced on March 12.

According to the Norwegian roadmap, physiotherapists and psychologists are also allowed to return to work on Monday, with hairdressers and dermatologists also opening this week.

Younger children in primary schools will start returning to classrooms on April 27.

While many shops have been allowed to remain open, bars and most restaurants will continue to keep their doors closed.

Cultural and sporting events will remain banned until at least June 15.

The Nordic country, home to some 5.4 million people, has registered 7,068 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 154 deaths.

Over the last few days the country has observed a drop in new admissions of coronavirus patients to hospitals, and in early April the government announced it considered the outbreak to be “under control.”

In addition to the many restrictions and regulations that remain in place, Norwegian authorities are now relying on tracing via an app and widespread testing to contain the epidemic.

 

If you want to tell us how the reopening of kindergartens has gone for you, please fill in the form below: 

 

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FAMILY

Can I take my kids out of their Norwegian school during term time for a holiday?

Travelling during the holidays can be incredibly expensive. So, you may be tempted to travel during term time, but what do the Norwegian rules say? 

Published: 16 February 2024 15:35 CET
Can I take my kids out of their Norwegian school during term time for a holiday?

Unfortunately, many families face the highest travel costs when their kids are off school. 

As those without kids will know, the main perks of travelling outside peak times include lower prices and fewer crowds – what’s not to love? 

Therefore, in some countries, it can be considered totally normal to take kids – especially younger ones – out of school for a holiday. But is this possible in Norway? 

In Norway, the Education Act states that all children have the “right and duty” to attend school. 

Under the law, it is the parent’s responsibility, or the children’s carers, to ensure that the children receive that education. 

When children are absent from school without it being cleared by the school, their parents risk being fined. When and how many families will be fined appears at the school’s discretion.

The consequences for taking your children out of school during term time also vary depending on their school level. 

For children in primary and secondary school, you will need to apply for permission from the school for the absence to be authorised. Parents can apply for leave of up to two school weeks (or ten school days). 

Even when applying properly, local authorities and schools can still choose to turn down the request. Requests will also generally be turned down during periods of testing. 

In some cases, schools can accommodate and grant the holiday time and ensure that the children have work or assignments to keep up their education. In other cases, schools will have a blanket policy of rejecting holidays outside of term time. 

However, if the holiday was combined with a family event, such as a wedding or christening abroad, it may have more chance of being given the green light. 

Therefore, you must speak to the school and local authority before committing to an expensive holiday.

The consequences for older children can be more severe than a fine.

Pupils in high school (videregående) with an undocumented absence rate of 10 percent face not receiving a grade in a subject. This means missing just a few days could put a grade at risk. Furthermore, days where the student is absent also appear on their final diploma. 

Additionally, there isn’t a way for high schools to authorise holidays as an absence. Authorised absences can only be granted for health, welfare, religious, and other events that the student cannot miss and high-level sporting and cultural events. 

This consequence to the student’s grade is on top of any action parents may face for taking their kids out of school.

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