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IN PICS: Norway’s school and kindergarten reopening

Norway reopened schools for the 250,000 pupils in the first five years on Monday, a week after reopening kindergartens. Here's how it went.

Published: 27 April 2020 14:42 CEST

IN PICS: Norway's school and kindergarten reopening

Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg was taught how to greet someone while maintaining social distance by students Celine Busk (left) and Rim Daniel Abraham (right). Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB

Students at Levre school in Baerum, west of Oslo, were greeted with a Norwegian flag, and a rainbow posted to the door to welcome them when they arrived on Monday.

Photo: Pierre-Henry Deshayes/AFP

While pupils were met by staff, there was none of the orderly queuing and exact spacing seen when Denmark opened schools on April 15.

READ ALSO: This is what Denmark's schools reopening looked like

Classes have been divided into groups of 15, but within those groups they do not need to be too distant, as here at Vikåsen school in Trondheim.

Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Scanpix / AFP

Each group of 15 was allowed to interact with one other group of 15, but they were supposed to avoid contact with other students.

Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Scanpix / AFP

In each classroom, schools had moved students desks further apart to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Here are some third grade students at Nordstrand Steinerskole school in Oslo.

Photo: Heiko Junge/NTB Scanpix/AFP

Students at Ellingsrudåsen school in Oslo had a surprise visit from Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg.

This is her being taught how to greet someone while maintaining social distance by students Celine Busk (left) and Rim Daniel Abraham (right).

Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB Scanpix / AFP

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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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