Day:319, Words:319

The school system in Øksfjord caters for students up to their final year of high school, before they begin their new lives with further studies in a specified field. After 10 years in a protected environment and a small school community, the 15 and 16 year olds need to travel elsewhere to continue their educational adventures. The majority move to Alta, two hours down the road from Mum and Dad, two hours away from warm dinners, washing machines and a fridge full of food.

For most, the move is an emotional journey away from the comforts of home and the initial months can be an anxious experience. This week the experience has turned into what might be described as farsical and upsetting.

The students who study in Alta, come from other parts of the county and use a good deal of money on student accommodation. Today, the students were told that they would have to immediately leave their accommodation and move into the gymnasium for an undisclosed amount of time.

Apparently, the building in which the students occupy contains asbestos and has done so for the past 47 years. So after four and a half decades, the kids were ordered to vacate their rooms within a day. The parents of the 48 students are obviously furious as the school principal does not appear to be taking any measures to accommodate the young teenagers adequately.

Obviously the gymnasium living situation is not ideal. How can the school leaders expect the kids to continue their studies as usual, while surviving in a camp style situation, without enough showers or the other necessary facilities that should be taken for granted.

Unsuprisingly, the principal has been bombarded with messages from frustrated and confused parents who are demanding that more is done to ensure that their children have a safe place to sleep at night.

Stay tuned for more information regarding this bizzare matter.

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