Student with disability receives job support, not study aid

In Oslo, Norway, Henriette Nielsen is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Oslo while also working as a political advisor. She receives functional assistance, help with practical tasks, through NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, to perform her job. However, she is denied the same support for her studies.

Nielsen believes this discrepancy is unfair, as knowledge and skills are essential for both work and education.

Currently, assistance for education falls under the responsibility of local municipalities, providing Personal Assistance (BPA) hours which Nielsen finds insufficient for her needs. The Norwegian government recently increased funding for functional assistance by ten million kroner, recognizing its benefit in enabling employers to retain or hire people with physical challenges. While functional assistance in the workplace is nationally funded, BPA is locally administered, creating inconsistency in the support available.

This means the amount of assistance Nielsen receives varies depending on her municipality’s budget. Several stakeholders are now advocating for an expansion of functional assistance to include higher education. Julia Brännström Nordtug of the Progress Party argues that such a move would be economically beneficial, pointing to the over 100,000 Norwegians with disabilities who are currently outside the workforce.

An expert committee appointed by the government is currently reviewing the possibility of extending support to students and utilizing BPA within universities, with a report expected in mid-December.