Do not put down the welcome classes – Hamar Arbeiderblad

OPINION

The opposition parties (Labor, SV, Pp and Christian Democrats) and position parties (BBL, Right, MDG, Left, Party and Progress Party) had two completely different solutions to this. While we suggested the funds back into the pot, proposed the position to cut the entire pot of three million from 1 January 2017. Their reason for this is to follow “best practices” with regard to the Oslo School. They suggested then 1, 2 million of the three million back to the strengthening in all schools. The actual cut of Hamar school is thus at 1, 8 million.

In several letters to the editor this week we can read scientific arguments for why it is important to focus on Norwegian training for newly arrived students. From one of Norway’s strongest research groups, Hedmark University College (HUC), the politicians warned against taking this measure. They write, among other things: “Welcome Classes serves as a learning space where students’ voice is heard, the language is in active use, and students receive close supervision of teachers with multilingual and multicultural education.” More letters to the editor from teachers emphasize the same and in a memo from the base of Training, we read:

“When resources are removed, the qualitative program for all students in all groups in Hamar school deteriorate.” because HT also refers to a report published last week by Minister stating that a minority language student without sufficient training, will cost society an average of 2.6 million kroner. Right writes on its website that they believe it to attend their local and drop to move, is the main argument. It is a point that is both worth taking with you, and that schools with welcome classes make compensatory measures. But against all the benefits we are many, including academics at HUC, who thinks it is not good enough reason to put down the welcome classes. And certainly not at that same time taking down the budget in Hamar school with 1.8 million. If the intent was to achieve better solutions in that students attend local school, so would the number one is to have a dialogue with the academic community and number two not to cut the budget.

And the cut should been effective from the autumn of 2017. As had been held in the spring to make the necessary steps for the budget meeting in December. But the decision applies from 1 January 2017. And the alderman confirmed the chairmanship meeting 29.06 this is the march-order he follows. A process of layoffs and relocations must therefore start in the autumn.

“Children and young people first” is the slogan of Hamar. Therefore cut measures for vulnerable groups of children and young people be academically based and dialogue with stakeholders be taken into account. It is not done in this case.

But it is allowed to turn! – But it must be done now, not in December.