92 annual report 2010 The Ombudsman stated that he agreed with the Ministry in this conception of the law. In addition, the Ministry stated that it is the responsibility of the local authorities and the individual schools to clearly and unequivocally communicate this conception of the law to parents so that parents do not feel obliged to or pressured into having their children bring their own computer to school. The Ministry found that it would be a matter for criticism if a school gave rise to doubts about the legal status regarding this issue. The Ombudsman stated that he agreed with the Ministry’s view and that he had no other comments on the Ministry’s statement. (Case No. 2009-4267-710) 2. Appeal guidance when decision is based essentially on previous decision(s) The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative case regarding failure to provide guidance on appeal. The reason was a complaint about a letter from the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme Agency (the Agency) about calculation of the number of study grant portions that had been used. The complainant had not received guidance on appeal. The Agency and the Board of Appeal for State Student Grants (the Board) did not consider the Agency’s letter to the complainant to be a decision, and this was the reason why the letter had contained no guidance on appeal. The Ombudsman asked the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) for a statement on the matter. The Ministry stated among other things that the Agency’s letter to the complainant was a decision even though grant notifications from previous years (which could have been appealed separately at the time) were essentially part of the basis for the decision. The Ministry also stated that according to general rules of administrative law an authority may have a duty to reopen a previously decided case and that the decision whether to reopen the case may also be appealed. The Ombudsman stated that he agreed with the Ministry’s conception of the law. He did, however, specify that the Agency’s obligation to make a decision