Norway’s Labor Party wants to make life easier for students with children
Students with children in Norway should receive student support for all months of the year, Norway's Labor Party (AP) believes.
That is one of several proposals put forward by the Labor Party in its new strategy for higher education.
“We now propose to introduce twelve months of student support for students with children. It is obviously good for the students, who get stability through the summer. It is also good for their children, who get the opportunity to take a holiday with both mum and dad,” parliamentary representative Nina Sandberg (AP) noted.
More children
Sandberg hopes the proposals can encourage more people to have children earlier.
The AP politician pointed out that Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) has expressed concern that too few children are being born in Norway for the welfare model to continue.
While Sandberg shares that concern, she doesn’t think that the government is doing enough to follow up on the issue.
In addition to giving out student support to student parents throughout the year, the party believes that students should get parental leave rights and be paid parental leave during their studies.
Avoiding difficult situations
Sandberg could not answer whether these schemes should be linked to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) or the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen).
“The important thing is that students do not end up in a difficult situation if they have children during their studies so that they can take a leave that suits their family and still return to their studies afterward. It is about both funding and adaptability from the educational institutions,” she said.
At the moment, students currently receive parental funding support for up to 49 weeks when they have children.
To receive the support, they must be part of an education that entitles them to support from the Loan Fund for at least four months before the birth of a child.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
