The Charlotte Johnsen Rolfsnes and Raymond Rolfsnes lines from Bergen are currently in combat mode. They recently received messages about their daughter, Mariel (16), which they rejected.

– Our daughter is starting high school after the summer, and she has verbally confirmed there is a place for her at Fyllingsdalen high school after her transfer meeting with them in May. But on Sunday we suddenly received a letter from the admissions office. “Welcome to the transfer meeting in Årstad”, said the letter, Line Charlotte informed Dagbladet.

– Completely without warning

He immediately thought it was a mistake and called the admissions office to inquire.

– They replied that they had removed Mariel from Fyllingsdalen vgs. and moved it to Årstad vgs., just before its final intake. Mariel just didn’t come in all of a sudden, with absolutely no warning, said Line Charlotte.

Årstad is one of the largest schools in Bergen, with around 1,000 students. Line Charlotte said her daughter didn’t know anyone who would start there.

Intake offices in the regions of Vestland and Årstad vgs. comments on this issue further in the article.

– Mariel has Down syndrome and is very sensitive. This means, among other things, that she can’t handle much of the noise around her, and Mariel relies on someone she knows around her to feel safe, says Line Charlotte.

– It doesn’t matter anymore

He said they had documented the importance of close relationships, and a small, clear environment, for meeting Mariel’s psychosocial needs. That they had sent specific wishes in the cover letter, as well as documenting what powers she had, and in which environment Mariel could thrive.

– Suddenly it seemed that this was no longer so important. The admissions office stands firmly on the basis of “holistic assessment,” and a conversation with a counselor from the current school also went nowhere. We got messages on Monday afternoon. Mariel has been offered a place at Årstad. A school that a very sensitive girl who needs security cannot enter, says Line Charlotte.

He says that it is irrelevant for Mariel to start at Årstad, and worries that Mariel’s school will end, if the admissions office does not do something about the situation.

– Sad

– Are you bored. It goes to the most vulnerable part of us, for he cannot fight his own battle, and we are his voice and spokesperson. When I got the news about changing schools, I was sad at first, but then I wanted to fight. I refuse to let this happen. That she would not have an optimal adult life, because something went wrong in the training course, said Line Charlotte.

He says that it’s understandable that mistakes can happen, and he doesn’t want to hang out with anyone.

– Families with children come hungry

– The only thing that matters is that my daughter goes to school with fewer students, where she knows someone. Otherwise, there would be disastrous consequences for Mariel, said Line Charlotte.

Principal: – Trying to find a good solution

The principal of the school in Årstad, Kari Danielsen, said that they facilitate students with various needs and challenges.

– We always try to find good solutions, and feel we have succeeded for the most part, Danielsen told Dagbladet.

He said they found a solution in dialogue with pupils and parents.

– We certainly welcome Mariel, if she ends up here, says Danielsen.

Reception office: – Won’t comment

The section leader for admissions in Vestland, Øivind Høines, told Dagbladet that he would not comment on individual cases, but that applicants for upper secondary education were eligible for an offer in one of three educational programs.

– Privileged applicants receive the offer first. In the assessment, we look at the needs of individual applicants and the ability of the regional council to provide the best offer to all applicants with preferential rights. In some cases, it may be right to offer a place at a school to which applicants have not yet applied, but with the same educational program they desire, says Høines.

– Who made this decision, and what reasons do you have for this decision?

– Secondary education is the responsibility of district municipalities according to the Education Law. In the regional council of Vestland, decision-making authority for intake is delegated to the department for training and competency and then to the department for intake, dissemination and final assessment, said Høines.

– Not finally

The head of admissions says that all documentation submitted is assessed and reviewed with the relevant school in the process, to find the right offer for the individual applicant.

“Now I die”

He commented on Line Charlotte’s claim that Mariel was promised a place in Fyllingsdalen vgs. during one of the transfer meetings they had in May.

– Information meetings between preference rights applicants and parents and schools concerned are important to ensure that applicants become familiar with the schools most likely to be offered. At such meetings, it should be determined that the acceptance is not final and that changes are possible.

Dagbladet contacted the principal at the Fyllingsdalen secondary school. who choose to refer to the admissions office.