Pilot program for psychological services at Skúlatrøð in Klaksvík evaluated for nationwide implementation in the Faroe Islands

A pilot program for psychological services at Skúlatrøð in Klaksvík, which lasted for three years, is being evaluated for nationwide implementation. If the program is to be expanded across the country, it would cost four million Danish kroner annually, or eight million kroner if fully staffed.

Djóna Nolsøe Joensen, a government minister, disclosed this information in response to inquiries from Eyðgunn Samuelsen, a member of the Parliament of the Faroe Islands.

The evaluation shows that school staff have expressed satisfaction with the program, believing it has been beneficial for the school and the students who have utilized the services. The program was designed for students who were not already connected to other forms of support systems, including specialized education, child welfare services, or child and adolescent psychiatry.

Importantly, the evaluation found no evidence that the pilot program has led to a decreased need for services from the specialized education system or for home and hospital schooling. However, it also indicated that the pilot program operates somewhat independently and may not have sufficiently collaborated with other systems, despite some cooperation with health professionals.

Before the Ministry of Children and Education considers launching a similar project again, it will clarify the focus of any future evaluations, Joensen noted.