Disappointed by Government Proposal
The Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People (FFO) announces an uprising in connection to a proposal from the Ministry of Education and Research for new regulations regarding grants. They have now sent a letter to the recently elected Minister.
– Our disappointment is huge, assistant General Secretary Jarl Ovesen of FFO says.
The reason is that the organisation had expected the government to come through following a Storting resolution earlier this year. This resolution was supposed to safeguard disabled students from added expenses through the government funding of students scheme.
The new proposal from the Ministry of Education and Research, recently renamed the Ministry of Knowledge, suggests among others: «Funding cannot be allocated exceeding eight years, regardless whether applicants are delayed. Exceptions are eligible to applicants who have been delayed due to reduced abilities».
Insignificant New Wording
– The alteration will not result in a change of reality. The only amendment is the change in wording from «disabilities» to «reduced abilities», he says. What Ovesen had hoped for was that the government would propose that the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund allocate grants as opposed to loans. That is if delays are caused by disabilities.
Mobilising Verbal Attack
FFO has now written a letter to Øystein Djupedal in which they urge him to consider the issue at hand. According to Universitas sources, the organisation is among others writing: «Education is more important to people with disabilities and chronic diseases than to other groups. Research indicates that Higher Education compensates for disabilities in the labour market».
Will Look into It
The new government cannot promise that they will look into the matter immediately. The Ministry has currently put a proposal regarding grants into motion.
– We are awaiting reactions to this, for instance from FFO, before we look into the matter, Åge Rosnes, State Secretary of the Ministry of Knowledge representing the socialist party SV, says.
– Both the red-green parties and Frp (right-wing party) support the resolution from the Storting. Wouldn’t it be natural for you to follow this up?
– That’s correct, but we need to be thorough about this. Whether or not amendments are due is something we have to consider following the hearing in the Storting, Rosnes concludes.
