Horne concerned about children abroad

The desire for more discipline and cultural conformity motivates parents with immigrant background in some non-Western countries to send their children to the country of origin, according to a new report. Photographer: Trocaire

Hundreds Norwegian-Somali children are on extended stays abroad in Somalia, Kenya and Egypt and Britain, according to a new report. The statistics also show that some of those abroad are involuntary. Children, Equality and Social Inclusion Solveig Horne (FRP) is concerned. 

The main reason that children are sent out, dissatisfaction with the Norwegian school system and concern that children do not learn enough in Norway.

- Parents often find that children are perceived as weak learners, often because they speak Norwegian worse than their peers. Parents are concerned that children are not challenged enough in Norway, says Hilde Lidén, a researcher at the Institute for Social Research, told Aftenposten.

She is an author of the comprehensive report Transnational adolescence , to be presented this week. Researchers have mapped the extent and causes of immigrant children traveling on long stay abroad.

Consider foreign school that better

phenomenon is greatest among Norwegian-Somalis, but also prevalent among children of Pakistani and Iraqi origin. For Norwegian-Pakistanis there has been a decline in recent years in the number of children registered emigrated.

- The school system in Somalia's not better than the Norwegian. But many Somali parents feel probably a little alienated by the Norwegian school. The understanding of Norwegian pedagogy and the way the education system works is probably limited in many states Bashe Musse, chairman of the Somali networks and city council politician in Oslo, told Aftenposten.

Horne: - Worrying

Children, Equality and Social Inclusion Solveig Horne (FRP) will provide child welfare chance to take over the responsibility for caring for children who are registered as resident in Norway and is involuntary abroad.

The report mentions examples as parents after divorce living in their own country, and cases where the motivation for our stay is that parents believe children have become "too Norwegian" and that they want to keep them with relatives abroad for them to come on keel.

- If the kids are sent involuntarily, as we see examples in the report, it can be neglected. 

The report shows that many are struggling academically and socially when they return to Norway, although some also have positive experiences. It is unfortunate for the possibility of a successful integration, says Horne told Aftenposten.

Read the full report here.