Two Schools Face Closure in Sarpsborg

Østfold news from the past 48 hours puts school at the centre of debate: the municipality of Sarpsborg is considering closing two primary schools. In Fredrikstad, a resident has completed 25 years of weekly peace marches, while in Moss, school transport and the building’s progress are fuelling discussions. On the initiative front, two girls aged eight and nine have launched their own detective agency.

Østfold news: 2 primary schools under threat in Sarpsborg

The proposal comes less than 6 months after the rescue of Jelsnes School. Sarpsborg municipal director Turid Stubø Johnsen now proposes closing Jelsnes Primary School and Alvimhaugen Primary School due to declining student numbers and deteriorating municipal finances (NRK Østfold).

The municipality currently has 1200 vacant school places, 378 more than in 2024 (NRK Østfold). Parents and staff affected say they are disappointed by the plan. Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad first covered the matter.

Earlier in the year, Turid Stubø Johnsen had proposed closing Navestad, Ullerøy and Jelsnes schools as part of the municipal capacity plan for daycare centres and schools covering 2026 to 2037. The municipal council approved the closure of Navestad, but saved Jelsnes and Ullerøy (NRK Østfold). The case is therefore returning to the politicians, this time for Jelsnes and Alvimhaugen.

In Fredrikstad, 25 years of marching for peace

Every Wednesday for 25 years, Jan-Kåre Fjeld has joined a peace march in Fredrikstad (NRK Østfold). Some weeks, several hundred people join the procession; at others, only a handful. The marcher wants to see more young people join the pacifist movement and says so plainly.

The initiative illustrates an unusual consistency in Østfold county: the same weekly meeting, held regardless of the weather, with no national structure behind it. The gathering remains open and takes place in the town centre.

In Moss, school transport and construction in question

Oda, 35, says she is frustrated by the organisation of school transport: her 9-year-old son has to take a taxi for 100 metres (Moss Avis). The case concerns the criteria for allocating these journeys and their practical application for families.

At the same time, the number of child protection assistance measures is falling in the municipality. The services explain that children receive assistance through other channels (Moss Avis). The construction sector, meanwhile, is recovering overall, but not in Moss: the local situation is described as paradoxical by sector stakeholders (Moss Avis).

Culture and initiatives in Østfold

In Fredrikstad, André won a national competition; his work is described as « en verk i særklasse », a piece of a different order (Fredriksstad Blad, 02/11). Still in the same city, Eline, 30, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis, has found a new perspective on her life, according to the local newspaper (Fredriksstad Blad, 02/11).

On a smaller scale, Hedvig, 9, and Aud, 8, have set up a detective agency and are hoping to catch a thief. If the missions become too frightening, they plan to contact a parent or their 12-year-old big sister (NRK Østfold).

📌 Local briefs

In Saltnes, the forest housing project has been put on hold, with a new assessment next year (Fredriksstad Blad, 02/11). The week 45 programme in Fredrikstad has been published (Fredriksstad Blad, 02/11). From Saturday to Sunday night on Halloween, patrols were deployed across the country: five people spent the night in custody and several were issued with orders or expelled from the city centre (NRK Østfold).

Sources: NRK Østfold, Fredriksstad Blad, Moss Avis, The Local Norway — Period: 01 November 2026 and 02 November 2026