The phone rings in the principal’s office. A student has been reported sick.
At Ruseløkka school, it happens more and more often.
– We see that it is a growing problem, says principal Merete Hansen.
The city council will now do something about it.
- We must have more debate. We need to talk more about the challenges that absence creates, says the Høre’s school council.
get the details far too late
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Ruseløkka school is a stone’s throw from the Castle in one direction and Aker Brygge in the other.
This is where school councilor Julie Remen Midtgarden has come to share the news.
In the spring, the absence figures for all Oslo’s primary schools will be published, right down to first grade.
- Today, it is indeed the case that the public only finds out about absences in primary school when the pupils leave the 10th grade, and that is far too late, says Midtgarden.
NOT A GAP STOCK: Julie Remen Midtgarden wants to raise a national debate about school absenteeism by publishing absence figures from the Oslo school.
Photo: William jobling / NRK
Want a debate
The city council’s internal figures show that absenteeism almost doubles from seventh to tenth grade.
By publishing the figures all the way down to first grade,the city council is hoping for a tightening up and debate,says Midtgarden.
- If we are going to do something about the large absenteeism in the Oslo school and Norwegian school, then we must have knowledge right from the first grade.
In order for the figures to be published, the absence must be registered more systematically. The school authority in Oslo has been instructed to ensure this.
Afraid of gape stick
The principal at Ruseløkka, Merete Hansen, would like to have
The Teachers
Kristian Brydøy and Juni Michelle Juuhl-Langseth are student representatives at Ruseløkka school.
Both say thay see truancy.
– But then it is usually from when they are at school and then leave the class. Not from the whole day, according to Juuhl-Langseth.
SEES SKULK: June Michelle Juuhl-Langseth sees students dropping classes.
Photo: William Jobling / NRK
Oslo to Publicly Release School Absenteeism Data, Sparking Debate
Oslo, Norway, is set to publish absenteeism figures for each of its schools, a move intended to increase clarity and address growing concerns about student attendance. This initiative, spearheaded by the school council, aims to identify schools with high rates of absence and encourage targeted interventions. While proponents believe the data will be a valuable tool for betterment, the national school authorities have declined to comment on the matter.
Rising absenteeism and Concerns About Student Attitudes
The decision to publish the data comes amidst a broader discussion about student engagement and the perceived value of education. Kristian Brydøy, a figure involved in the initiative, highlighted the severity of the issue in some cases.
“In some individual cases it is so serious. There are some who have 50 per cent absences, and then it is often the case that they think that school is nonsense,” Brydøy stated. https://www.nrk.no/norge/oslo-skal-offentliggjore-fravarsstall-1.16618998
This raises questions about whether a shift in attitude is occurring,where students view school attendance as optional rather than a basic expectation. The initiative seeks to address this by making absenteeism rates visible and prompting schools to take action.
Data Availability and Scope
Currently, national school authorities in Norway only publish absence figures for tenth grade students. Oslo’s decision to extend this transparency to all schools represents a meaningful departure from the national approach.
NRK reached out to Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun for comment on Oslo’s plan, but the Ministry of Education declined to provide a statement. https://www.nrk.no/norge/oslo-skal-offentliggjore-fravarsstall-1.16618998
Though, the Oslo school council maintains that the city has the autonomy to implement this measure independently.”No, Oslo can do this on its own. And here we also want to go to the front and show how it can be done,” a representative from the school council asserted. https://www.nrk.no/norge/oslo-skal-offentliggjore-fravarsstall-1.16618998
Potential Impact and Future Developments
The publication of school absenteeism data is expected to spark further debate about the best strategies for improving student attendance and engagement. It remains to be seen whether other municipalities in Norway will follow Oslo’s lead.
Date of Publication: January 4, 2026, 9:23 PM (CET)