Empowering Students Through Education Initiatives in Follo Region

1. Ski upper secondary school- in the Follo region of the county of Akershus, taking its pride in knowledge, sport and arts Initiatives to prevent negative choices of subjects (drop-outs)

2. Initiatives … • Background for the project • Practical work in class • Cooperation school - home • The building of networks • Info material • Experiences and attempted conclusion

3. Background for the project • The Follo intake area – 120000 inhabitants • Includes 7 different local authorities (to be precise: the south-eastern part of the county of Akershus) – 12 lower secondary schools • ”Primary education for 16-20 year-olds – refugees and immigrants – Ski and Oppegård • ”Follo kvalifiseringssenter” – regional centre for language qualifications + ”Nesodden kommunale voksenopplæring” – doing the same thing in another local community • What we can offer: • Preparatory courses and adapted courses in academic studies qualifying for general university admittance; three branches of study to choose among • Target group • Language minorities and their parents or guardians

4. Follo map

5. Practical work in class • To get to know the pupils and to motivate them • Inform them about how the school works and the opportunites it offers • Reflections • Questionnaire and talks with the pupil • ”10 years from now – where am I?” ”The future and I” • Find relevant information about career choices • Cross-curricular project about career choices • Prepare visits to schools, attend to odd class, fair to present a range of occupational opportunities • Implement ”skolestest.no” (Internet based test to make the pupils aware of the their choices and opportunities)

6. Coooperation school - home • Autumn term: Meeting for parents/guardians • Invitation written in appropriate language – tick off for necessary interpretation • Information adapted for this audience • ”What will I do in the future?” • Tour around the school building • Meeting for for parents/gurdians in January • ”Skoletest.no” • Talks with teachers/form master

7. The building of networks • Meeting with representatives from schools our pupils previously attended • We are informed about their ”old schools” • Another network: Meetings with other upper secondary schools in Akershus county: Rud and Strømmen (other intake areas)

8. Info material • Simplified school regulations • Invitation to parents/guardians to engage in cooperation • ”What will I do in the future?” • Web site list (to be presented later)

9. Experiences and attempted conclusion • Dropping out • Wrong choices • How many graduate? • YOU supervisor • ”Where do we go from here?”

10. Contact with parents – some reflections”I felt like a little child” • Traditions from their native country: • Emphasis on collective values and loyalty to family/local community • Children expected to be respectful and obedient • Asking questions not considered good manners • The school is solely responsible for the child`s education • Face to face with Norwegian school: • Everybody of equal value – comprehensive school • Active participation – pupils and parents • Cooperation school - home • Parent involvement in their pupils` school work

11. Useful links • Some useful links: • www.bip.no • www.foreldrenettet.no • www.fug.no • www.vilbli.no • www.nyinorge.no • www.ski.vgs.no • www.mifa.uio.no • www.utrop.no • www.skolenettet.no/flerkulturell

12. Kilder • Rapport fra prosjektkonferanse – oktober 2005 arrangert av FUG • Foredraget ”Tradisjon, ansvar og utfordring” ved Atnaf B. Kebreab ved Sentrum familiekontor Oslo