Organisation of the education system in Norway 2009/2010 NO European Commission EURYBASE NORWAY 1. Political, Social and Economic Background and Trends ........................................................................ 7 1.1. Historical Overview..................................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies ......................................................................................... 8 1.2.1. Stortinget and the National Government................................................................................................................................8 1.2.2. Regional Government .....................................................................................................................................................................9 1.2.3. Local Government ............................................................................................................................................................................9 1.3. Religions .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4. Official and Minority Languages ................................................................................................ 10 1.5. Demographic Situation............................................................................................................. 10 1.6. Economic Situation................................................................................................................... 11 1.7. Statistics................................................................................................................................... 11 1.7.1. Population ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.7.2. Unemployment, Employment, GNP........................................................................................................................................ 13 2. General Organisation of the Education System and Administration of Education ................................ 15 2.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................... 15 2.2. Ongoing Debates and future developments .............................................................................. 18 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation ............................................................................ 21 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance............................................. 22 2.5. Compulsory Education.............................................................................................................. 23 2.6. General Administration............................................................................................................. 23 2.6.1. General Administration at National Level............................................................................................................................. 24 2.6.2. General Administration at Regional Level ............................................................................................................................ 28 2.6.3. General Administration at Local Level ................................................................................................................................... 28 2.6.4. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management.................................................................................................. 29 2.7. Internal and External Consultation............................................................................................. 30 2.7.1. Internal Consultation.................................................................................................................................................................... 30 2.7.2. Consultation involving Players in Society at large............................................................................................................. 31 2.8. Methods of Financing Education ............................................................................................... 33 2.9. Statistics................................................................................................................................... 34 2.9.1. Education Budget .......................................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.9.2. Student/Pupil Financing.............................................................................................................................................................. 35 2.9.3. Number of Institutions................................................................................................................................................................. 35 3. Pre-primary Education ..................................................................................................................... 37 3.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................... 37 3.2. Ongoing Debates and future Developments.............................................................................. 38 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework.................................................................................................. 39 3.4. General Objectives.................................................................................................................... 39 3.5. Geographical Accessibility......................................................................................................... 40 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution/Centre ......................................................... 40 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families......................................................................................... 40 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children......................................................................................... 41 3.9. Organisation of Time................................................................................................................. 41 3.9.1. Organisation of the Year.............................................................................................................................................................. 41 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable....................................................................................................................................................... 41 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Hours........................................................................ 41 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ............................................................................................. 42 3.12. Evaluation of Children............................................................................................................. 43 3.13. Support Facilities .................................................................................................................... 43 1 EURYBASE NORWAY 3.14. Private Sector Provision........................................................................................................... 43 3.15. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures ................................................................ 44 3.16. Statistics................................................................................................................................. 44 3.16.1. Number of Children .................................................................................................................................................................... 44 3.16.2. Number of Institutions............................................................................................................................................................... 45 3.16.3. Number of Teachers ................................................................................................................................................................... 46 4. Single Structure Education ............................................................................................................... 47 4.1. Historical Overview................................................................................................................... 48 4.2. Ongoing Debates and future developments .............................................................................. 50 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework.................................................................................................. 51 4.4. General Objectives.................................................................................................................... 52 4.5. Geographical Accessibility......................................................................................................... 53 4.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of School.......................................................................... 54 4.7. Financial Support for Pupil’s Families......................................................................................... 54 4.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Pupils ...........................................................................................