New Christian school in Norway survives storm of criticism
Pupils gather at the courtyard of their Vikåsen school in Trondheim, Norway. Image not related to article. Photo AFP, Gorm Kallestad
Northern Europe
The new Hans Nielsen Hauge primary school has taken another hurdle. The establishment of the new Christian school is a struggle.
Project manager Ådne Dæhlin breathed a sigh of relief. Until Wednesday, it was unclear whether his new school project could even find housing for its location in Nordre Follo. It had signed an agreement with an existing school so that students from the new establishment could use empty rooms in the building of the Kolbon School. That is reported by Dagen.
Homosexuality
However, that plan led to many protests from local politicians in Nordre Follo. They criticised the traditional view of the school on homosexuality and did not think it was a good idea to house a Christian school within the building of a public school.
The Pentecostal Jesus Church wants to establish two Christian primary schools. They are to be called Niels Hauge Grunnskole. One will be in Oslo, and the other in Nordre Follo municipality.
Last Wednesday, the municipal council looked at the matter again. Council members decided whether the lease, which had not gone through a full process of political consideration, was valid. Even though a minority led by the Labour Party questioned this validity, the majority of the municipal council approved the lease agreement, Verdinytt writes.
Now, the State Administrator has to look at the legitimacy of the lease agreement. If the Administrator deems it invalid, the municipal council must reconsider the matter.
Smoothly
Project manager Ådne Dæhlin is happy with the outcome of the vote of the municipal council. "We have a clear political majority for the administration's lease agreement with us to be taken into account", he says to Dagen. Dæhlin expects that the rest of the process should go smoothly.
At the same time, the school still needs more students to be able to start its educational program. "We need more students to create a good school environment and for the economy to turn around", Dæhlin admits. Therefore, the next step in the project is to get parents enthusiastic about the initiative.
Limited
However, the time to find enough students is limited. In August, the permission for the project will expire if the school has not been able to open by then.
The same problem does not play in the municipality of Oslo. The school has already found a premise, and more students are enrolled there.
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