NORWAY SPECIAL REPORT: Canceled exams raise concerns about gaps in education in Norway

 

OSLO, FEB 11: After Minister of Education Guri Melby (V) canceled written exams in junior high schools and upper secondary schools on Monday, several people expressed worries about the effects.

“The Minister of Education’s move of canceling this year’s exams… should sound the alarm at universities and colleges,” Live Olsen Hølmo, leader of Econa Student, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).

Econa is an interest and employee organization for students, master’s graduates in economics and administration, and others.

“The problem is not whether they are ready for the exam, but whether they are professionally ready for higher education,” she said.

Eivind Aabakken, leader of Econa’s local student group at Nord University, fears that more people will drop out.

Aabakken: Measures necessary

If they are not ready to transition from upper secondary school to university, measures must be introduced. If no measures are implemented, there is a higher risk of more people dropping out. Nobody wants that, he emphasizes.

In a commend, Melby noted that she is aware that the school year has not been ideal and that many students have had several periods away from school, in addition to more digital teaching.

Minister of Research and Higher Education Henrik Asheim (H) says he expects the universities and colleges to follow up on all students.

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COURTESY norwaytoday

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