In recent weeks, the development of infection in Norway has exploded, and both the Education Association and the Trade Union express concern about the corona situation in schools. The Center Party’s Kjersti Toppe believes that the government has failed.
– I understand well the criticism and concern from the professions. The government and the health authorities have failed in handling the pandemic and have been too focused on reopening, Toppe tells Dagbladet.
She points out that Minister of Health Bent Høie (H) and the government at the beginning of August announced that Norway would probably be able to move to a normal everyday life with increased preparedness during September.
PRESENTATION REPRESENTATIVE: Kjersti Toppe (Sp). Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
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– The strategy has failed
Toppe asks the government to come on board.
– The strategy has failed. An infection record is set and the infection tracking breaks down. The development seems to be out of control. It is clear that this makes it difficult in school, and especially in municipalities with high infection pressure, says Toppe and encourages:
– Here, the government must come to the fore and explain what the current strategy is, and provide help, advice and support to the municipalities and assist them in dealing with it. Particular attention is needed to what must now happen in schools and kindergartens, so that the infection does not increase even more.
MANAGER: Mette Nord in the Trade Union. Photo: The trade union
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The unions worried
On Tuesday, the Education Association stated to Dagbladet that they get feedback about scared parents and students, and partly chaotic conditions.
The union tells Dagbladet that they have conducted a membership survey which among other things shows that half of their members who work in schools, kindergartens and SFO / AKS are afraid of being infected at work.
– This survey shows that our members are afraid of being infected with corona, especially in Oslo we see that as many as 7 out of 10 fear this. This is a concern that must be taken seriously, especially since the government has failed fundamentally when it comes to vaccinating employees in schools and kindergartens, says leader Mette Nord in the Trade Union to Dagbladet.
Nord believes that it was irresponsible of the government to open at a green level, while the Education Association has asked the authorities to reconsider whether it is right to replace the quarantine with testing in schools.
PRESENTATION REPRESENTATIVE: Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party). Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
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Vaccination
Health policy spokesperson Ingvild Kjerkol in the Labor Party tells Dagbladet that they share the Education Association’s concern.
She further says that they agree with the government that vaccination is most important now, and have therefore asked them to speed up the decision to vaccinate children from 12 to 15 years.
– The Labor Party believes it is right and important that we follow professional advice from the health authorities when it comes to dealing with the pandemic. We have done this since the start of the pandemic and we still do, Kjerkol tells Dagbladet.
