Coronavirus and flu infection and increased pressure on GPs to obtain a medical certificate. It causes that the limit of absences from upper secondary school is temporarily abolished until the end of the school year.
- We strive to ensure that our students are at school as much as possible. At the same time, flu season is approaching and the public is still infected with the coronavirus. Education Minister Tonje Brenna said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
According to Brenna, sick students who go to their GP to get an important absence from school also put pressure on the medical service.
On this basis, the government decided to reintroduce exceptions to the absence rule. This will apply until the end of the school year.
Change in October
The absence limit means that students cannot leave school for more than 10 percent of one subject without a medical certificate. During the pandemic, the government introduced an exemption from high school absenteeism. On October 11, this was lifted.
Many people felt that it had happened too soon. Some even argued that the limit of absences should be lifted again temporarily. Among these people it is me. others mayor of Trondheim Rita Ottervik (Labor Party), mayors of the districts of Trøndelag and Vestland, and SV.
This law is retroactive
The rule is also retroactive, so that it also applies to students who have been on sick leave since October 11, when the absenteeism limit was reintroduced. During this intermediate period, both medical and self-assessment and parental statements are accepted for students who obtain them.
- We are leaving behind a period of great tension in our schools. The pandemic has led to more work and rapid regulatory changes. I am concerned about predictability for both students and schools. This is the minister of education.
This news was well received by KS who thinks it is good that the government made such decisions.
- Of course, it is wise that students who have respiratory symptoms do not now need to contact their GP for important absence records. It is also wise that this will apply for the rest of the school year. In light of both the uncertainty about the further situation of the infection and the pressure on GPs. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that, fortunately, the threshold of absence has not been lowered - says the president of the management board of KS Gunn Marit Helgesen.
Facts about the waiver of the upper secondary school absence rules, which are currently being reinstated:
* Students with symptoms of the disease do not need to see a doctor to document their absence.
* All absences for health reasons can be documented with a self-declaration for adult students and confirmation from parents for people under 18 years of age.
* Absences due to health reasons are not entered on diplomas and qualification certificates.
* This also applies to COVID-19 related absences such as testing and quarantine.
* The rules are the same as for almost the entire previous school year through October 11 of this year.
* Students who fell ill after October 11 until today will have a canceled absence.
Source: Ministry of Education
Photo: Ali Zare / NTB
