In anticipation of the chaos that will likely ensue when Justin Bieber returns to Norway later this month, several schools in the country have preemptively rescheduled midterm exams citing fears that students will cut class and miss the test.
"We find it regrettable, but we preferred to move forward the Norwegian exams to avoid problems," said Roar Aasen, headmaster of a school in western Norway — one of five so far that have brought exams forward by a week to avoid coinciding with the pop idol's performances in Oslo on April 16th and 17th.
Aasen added that the decision was made after officials learned that many students had purchased tickets to the concerts, and were planning on skipping school.
"I am concerned that students should be concentrating when they take tests and midterms," Norway's education minister Kristin Halvorsen told the Associated Press. "The local schools have the responsibility to schedule the local midterms, and if they think there is any reason to change the dates, they have authority to do so."
She added: "We've all been 14-years-old and know that interests can be intense."
Last time Bieber played Norway — in May of last year — he held a free concert that nearly resulted in Oslo's police declaring a state of emergency.
[photo via AP]