It can cost society more than 20 billion NOK if asylum children receive inadequate schooling, according to a new report. – We need to think long term, the Minister says.
Approximately 7,000 minors who came to Norway last year, are likely to have their asylum applications granted. Inadequate schooling for these can cost society more than 27 billion, the newspaper Aftenposten writes. This is revealed in a new report from Fafo and Economic Analysis.
On average it costs 1.1 million kroner to get one child through primary school (1st- 10th grade). Fafo fear the “price tag” may rise to almost four times as much if asylum children do not get adequate training.
– We are facing a major challenge that will cost a lot of money. This is not resolved through a single budget. It will cost substantially more if we do not spend enough resources now, says Minister of Education and Research Torbjørn Røe Isaksen .
Isaksen says politicians need to think long term, and the report has stressed that insufficient training can have a negative impact on mental health, quality of life, work and income. Increased spending on social security, benefits and healthcare are also pinpointed as potential challenges of poor schooling.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
