Prime Minister Støre met with students in Volda
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he greatly appreciated the opportunity to talk to students and face challenging questions during his visit to Volda University College.
Stemninga var god og seriøs på same tid då statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre snakka med og vart stilt spørsmål av student Tale Rørvik Lejon, leiar for Studentparlamentet i Volda. Foto: HVO / Steinarr Sommerset.
The cafeteria at Volda University College was packed – mainly with students – when the prime minister visited the campus on Thursday March 5th. After being welcomed by Rector Odd Helge Mjellem Tonheim, the prime minister was interviewed by the leader of the Student Parliament in Volda, Tale Rørvik Lejon.
– Thank you for inviting me, I have been looking forward to this, particularly to meet with you students, said Prime Minister Støre to applause from the audience.
At the request of the prime minister himself, the visit would focus primarily on meeting with students. He wanted to hear how the students in Volda are doing and engage in a dialogue with them.
Highlighted the importance of journalism
To begin with, Lejon and Prime Minister Støre talked about current affairs such as conflicts in the world and issues concerning the welfare state. The conversation then turned to student politics, before ending with questions from the audience.
Støre started by giving the students an interesting insight into the daily life of a prime minister.
Lejon then informed the prime minister of the upcoming democracy center at Volda University College, and followed up by asking how we can trust politicians in this day and age, particularly in light of the Epstein-case and its connection to leading public figures in Norway.
– Surveys show that we politicians in Norway have a high level of trust among the people. But students should be critical of the government and one of the important control functions for this is journalism, said Støre to an audience where a number of journalism students were sitting in the front rows with cameras and audio recorders – ready to ask him questions.
The prime minister taken by surprise
Surveys show that students in Norway are working more alongside their studies and spending less time studying than before. This developent is caused by students simply trying to make their finances better, according to Lejon.
She wondered what the prime minister and his government would do to improve the financial situation for students.
– This is a complex matter. But we will change the admission rules for higher education so that, for example, one does not have to study for several years to improve grades to get into different programs. My government has also improved student finances in recent years by providing higher student loans. It may be good for students to have a part-time job, but not if it takes too much of their time, said Prime Minister Støre, who also pointed out that the Labor Party has set a target for student financial support to reach 1 G (the basic amount in the National Insurance Scheme) in their party program.
The Norwegian Student Union advocates that the financial support for students should be at 1.5 G and Lejon explained that the financial support currently lies at around 1.28 G.
“Isn’t it time to adjust the target set at 1 G?” Lejon asked the prime minister with a smile.
“I hear you and acknowledge the point,” Støre smiled back.
– Take care of each other
The Student Health and Well-being Survey in Norway (SHoT) has shown that there is a lot of loneliness among students. At the same time, volunteer work among students is also on the decline.
The prime minister was asked what can be done to reverse these trends.
– The students have the main responsibility themselves, to see the people around you and help create a good community. The government has implementet policies that support volunteering financially, by providing VAT compensation. It is also important that there is a low threshold for participating in the various associations here in Volda. Combating loneliness is a job we must do together - we all have a role to play, was the reply from the prime minister.
Prime Minister Støre was also asked what his government thinks about the steadily decreasing number of applicants for teacher training programs, both for primary/secondary education and early childhood education.
– There are several factors in play. First we must provide good information about the teaching profession and present it to those who are applying for higher education. Secondly, salaries and other conditions for teachers are important, and the parties in the labour market must work to improve these conditions. We must make it attractive to stay in the profession and welcome back those with teaching qualifications who have left the profession. It is a complex picture, but we will work hard to reverse the trend, said Prime Minister Støre.
After the session on stage in the cafeteria at Volda University College, Prime Minister Støre took the time to answer questions from journalism students who are currently doing a practice period. During this practice period the students are producing their own in-house TV/radio broadcasts and online newspapers – check out their work on Nærnett!
