Safe and pleasant school environment

All students have the right to a safe and positive school environment

All students have the right to a safe and positive school environment that promotes health, well-being, and learning. It is the students' own experience of how they feel at school that is decisive.
  

Report it to the school as soon as possible

If you, as a parent or student, experience bullying, harassment, or an unsafe school environment, you must report it to the school. You can do this by talking to your homeroom teacher, department head, or principal. Alternatively, you can talk to any other adult at the school. You can request a conversation/meeting or send an email.

The school has a duty to act.

Everyone who works at the school must ensure that the students are doing well at school. If an adult at the school knows or believes that a student is being bullied, harassed, or is otherwise not doing well, they must: 

• intervene and stop the abuse immediately, if possible
• always report it to the principal 
• investigate what has happened 

The principal is responsible for making a plan and taking measures to ensure that the student feels safe and comfortable at school again. This is called the school's duty to act.
    

What if a student is abused by a school employee? 

If a student experiences bullying or abuse by a teacher or other school employee, the school has an additional responsibility to follow up on the matter. There are stricter requirements for reporting, investigating, and implementing measures. The principal must also notify the school owner (Longyearbyen Local Council), who will follow up on the matter. 

If someone in management is responsible for the abuse, the school owner must be notified directly.  

Report the case to the state administrator.

If you or your child believe that the school has not done enough to ensure a safe and good school environment for the student, you can report the matter to the state administrator. Before reporting the matter to the state administrator: 

• you must have raised the matter with the school principal 
• at least one week must have passed since you raised the matter with the principal  

The case must also concern the school environment at the school the student currently attends.  

In very special cases, you can contact the state administrator regardless. You must contact the state administrator for Troms and Finnmark www.statsforvalteren.no External link, opens in new window. under the tab.

What can the state administrator do? 

The state administrator will assess whether the school has done what it should, and they can decide what the school should do to ensure that the student has a safe and good school environment. The state administrator will set a deadline for when the measures must be implemented and follow up on the case.

They can also impose fines if the schools do not follow up. 

Information for children, young people, and parents about bullying and rights 

At

you will find information about the rights of students and parents, and what you can do if a student feels that they do not have a safe and good school environment.  

Read more about your rights

• Read more about students' rights at Nullmobbing.no External link, opens in new window.
• Read more about students' right to a good working environment on the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training's website, Udir.no External link, opens in new window.
• Read more about how to detect and prevent bullying on the Learning Environment Center's website, Uis.no External link, opens in new window.
• Read more about the Anti-Bullying Ombudsman in Troms and Finnmark External link, opens in new window.