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Education in Norway Study visit in Sunnhordland 2nd of May 2011 Fred Sætveit (adviser) County Governor of Hordaland, Departement of Education 2
Education & Experience UiB: Preliminary courses, Latin French, Norwegian, Folklore Ped. education HiB: Spes. ped. Hist: Sign language ------------------------------- Upper secondary school 14 years for hearing students 17 years for the deaf + interpreter UiB/NHH: Norwegian for foreign students - 13 years 3
The County Governor: Is not a school owner, but we ensure that appropriate education is provided in accordance with Norwegian educational policy (including kindergartens, private schools and home education) We try to be good helpers or critical friends We co-ordinate different levels of education so it reflects national policy and demands from students of all ages (including children in kindergartens) The goal is to have an efficient and flexible schooling system 4
The County Governor: We informe about the national educational policy and priorities by: Written information Meetings with local authorities Conferences and short courses Web sites Establishing network Being available for local authorities, students, parents etc. 5
Also has a supervison role: The County Governor: We make sure that the local education system works properly by writing audit reports We ensure students rights We make final decisions in legal complaints We ensure that Government fundings and block grants are used in a proper way or according to the intentions 6
The County Governor: Evaluation and Feedback: Annual reports to the Ministry of Education and Research Ad-hoc reports Reflecting the local authorities view on national education policy We do not: Interfere with how municipalities or the county authorities run schools unless they are doing something illegal 7
Visions for Education in Norway Education for all. Kindergartens are not considered as schools, but they are included in the educational system All children and young people have an equal right to education and training regardless of social and cultural background or possible special needs Aim: organise education within lifelong learning 8
Visions for Education in Norway Unified school system: equal and adapted education All education is free up to + including upper secondary level Private schools are primarily intended as a supplement to state-run schools. Private / independant schools often have a denominational nature. 85% state-support 100% for pupils with special needs For children with problems - early intervention and efforts for better learning and progress 9
Responsibility 1 The Norwegian Parliament and Government define the goals and decide the budgets for education. Legislation. Curriculum. The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for Universities and Colleges The Directorate for Education and Training is the executive agency for the Ministry The County Governor, Dep of Education represents the Ministry on educational issues and is a link between local authorities and the Ministry. 13
Both the county and the municipalities: Responsibility 2 County / Municipalities - Finance the gap between the real costs and money provided by the government. - Build and maintain schools run by the municipalities. - Have employer responsabilities for teachers. The County: Upper secondary education and Adult education. The Municipality: Primary education, Lower secondary education and Adult education. 14
Kindergartens / day care institutions National focus in 2011: Individual right for all children over 1 year to have a place in a day care institution New financial system The coverage is 88% (January 2010) Many new day care institutions have been built recently Large private sector. In Hordaland county: - 11.238 children in public day care - 16.134 children in private day care 15
The framework plan for kindergartens Guidelines for day care institutions - content and tasks Emphasis on both local cultural values and national goals for day care institutions The framework plan is rooted in a comprehensive view of the child Children's play is important as a working method 7 subject-areas covering a broad area for learning 16
Focus for kindergartens in 2010 Ensure the right for all 1 year old children to get a place in kindergarten. The bill was passed in 2009 More focus on quality in kindergartens after several years with focus on ensuring enough places New financial system Preparing a new law 17
Kindergarten County Governor s responsibility: Guidance to municipalities and private owners Inspections of municipalities following up Kindergarten Act and Framework plan Implement program for quality improvement 2007-2011 in Hordaland Strive to get a higher quality and ensure the competence of the staff in kindergartens 18
Challenges for kindergartens Overcome the lack of pre-school teachers Make sure there is a coherence between day care and school Seek a more gender-mixed workforce 19
The educational system in Norway state-schools & private / independant schools Universal schooling introduced about 250 years ago. From 1889, seven years of compulsory education. In 1969 this was increased to nine years, and in 1997 to ten years (6-16 years). Two stages: Primary school ( grades 1-7) Lower secondary school ( grades 8-10) 2007: 3.245 schools, 63.769 teachers, 621.683 pupils 2009: 3 060 schools, 64 098 teachers, 614 033 pupils (State-run and private) 20
Primary school Traditions from kindergarten Playing and joint activities Developing social skills and relationships Aquire learning strategies Learning to work independantly Practical and theoretical elements are little by little distinguished more clearly Plans for changing the curriculum. Optional subjects with more focus on practical skills 21
Lower secondary school More detailed learning and greater coherence of the subject matter Work across subjects project work Responsibility for planning and evaluating the tasks they carry out themselves Anti drop-out program All young people who have completed the lower secondary education have a legal right to a 3-year, full-time upper secondary education (16-19 years) on the basis of a single national curriculum 22
A National Curriculum - A national curriculum, adapted to local conditions and individual pupils - Subjects: Norwegian, Maths, Social Studies, Arts and Crafts, Science and the Environment, English (compulsory from the first year), Music, Home Economics, Physical Education, RLE = religious and ethical education - Second foreign language: optional subject in lower secondary - Final, national written exams - Local, oral exams 23
Goal for the National Tests See how schools succeed in developing the skills of the pupils on level 5, 8 and 9 in reading, mathematics and English. Facilitate the co-operation between teachers, pupils and parents in order to improve the pedagogical develpement. Help the administration in schools and municipalities to work for improvements. 24
Focus for schools in 2011-1 Compulsory home work assistance for level 1-4. In average 2 hours per week for pupils on each level. Physical activities as a suplement to ordinary sportclasses. Gnist Program for recruiting students to get more teachers in the future and improve the quality of teachers in general. 25
Focus for schools in 2011-2 - Better conditions for learning for example: Anti bullying programs and Supervision by the County Governor - Further education for teachers especially: Reading, Mathematics, English, Evaluation. The Government has a focus for improving learning coditions (2009-2014) http://www.udir.no/brosjyrer/manifest-mot-mobbing- 20092010/The-Anti-Bullying-Manifesto-20092010/ 26
Focus for schools in 2011-3 Additional education for teachers in 2011 with the following subject in focus: Norwegian, English, Reading, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Councelling, Evaluation, Vocational subjects, Practical-aesthetic subjects Anti-drop out program in upper secondary schools 27
SFO = Optional after school programme Day-care facilities for children in grades 1-4 Legally obliged to provide before and after school hours Provide facilities for playing Participation in cultural and recreational activities appropiate for the age, level of physical ability and interests of the children Provide satisfactory development conditions Children with disabilities Optional home-work assistance 28
Upper Secondary Education alternative paths 29
Programmes: General studies and vocational education 463 schools, 186.821 pupils, 38.168 apprentices, 1.016 training candidates (figures from 2008). 27.372 teachers + adm. (figures from 2007). Upper secondary education and training comprises 12 different education programmes: - 12 general studies and 9 vocational - The first year (vg1) you choose an education programme - The second year (vg2) and the third year (vg3) you choose a programme area from the education programme you have chosen The 12 education programmes are as follows: 30
Three academic specialization education programmes admission:university/college) 1. Sports subjects 2. Music, dance and drama with programme areas Dance Drama Music 3. Specialization in general studies with programme areas Arts, crafts and design studies Natural science and mathematics studies Social science and economics studies Language studies + International Baccalaurate 31
Nine vocational studies 1. Building and construction technology 2. Design, arts and crafts subjects 3. Electrical and electronic subjects 4. Health and social subjects 5. Media & communication (+ option of general studies Vg3) 6. Utilization of natural resources (+ option of general studies Vg3) 7. Restaurant trades and nutritional subjects 8. Service and travel 9. Technical skills and industrial production + Supplementary programme for general university admissions certification 32
Goals After three years of general theoretical secondary education: a general entrance qualification (to higher education) After two years of vocational education + two years of apprenticeship (main model): a vocation Disabled pupils have a right to four, or five, years in order to reach individual qualifications (lower level qualifications) 33
Folk High Schools - One-year boarding schools. A supplement to the regular education system based on the idea of learning for life - Provide an opportunity to grow personally, socially and academically. Students live on campus. Close contact with the staff - Aim: Broaden your horizon, deepen your social insight and gain self-confidence - 78 private schools, which also receive government funding - Offer a variety of subjects such as; outdoor-life, drama, music, creative arts, communication etc. - No tuition fee, but students pay for room, board, study trips and teaching materials - No tests, no exams, no degrees - Students from foreign countries are accepted More information: www.folkehogskolen.no 34
Education in Prison 1 Responsibility: The Ministry of Education (not Ministry of Justice) The County Governor of Hordaland has on behalf of The Ministry of Education been delegated the tasks concerning education in prison on a national level Inmates have the same rights to education as other citizens The Government (White Paper 2007/08) all prisons can offer education to inmates special focus on vocational training 35
Education in Prison 2 Total number of inmates in Norway 2009: 3595 Total number of prisons in 2010: 52 - all offer education The biggest prison is situated in Oslo 392 inmates Prison population: Norway: 75 inmates per 100 000 inhabitants (2007) England: 153 inmates per 100 000 inhabitants (2007) 36
Lifelong Learning Adult Education 1 Lifelong learning and educational opportunities for adults are important principles for the Norwegian educational policy Adult Education aims to provide suitable conditions in order to strenghten the competence of the adult population Adults have a legal right to primary and lower secondary education ( August 2002) 37
Lifelong Learning Adult Education 2 Adults have a right to secondary upper education (implemented from August 2000) Accreditation of prior learning is an important principle when assessing adult competence. 38
Higher education 1 Four categories of higher education institutions: Universities Specialized university institutions University colleges Institutions with accredited academic or professional programmes One system for traditional academic education and professional education. Both state and private higher institutions carry out research and offer programmes leading to these programmes. 39
Higher education 2 Most of the higher institutions are owned by the state, and more than 90% of the students attend state-run institutions. Admission: Successful completion of upper secondary education with some specified courses Qualifications recognized equvalent to matriculation standard (work experience) Some fields have additional requirements All students must meet the same requirements 40
Teacher education Admission: general entrance qualification for students Pre-school teaching qualification - 3 years General subject teacher 4 years Single subject teacher 3 years Upper secondary school teachers 5/6 years 41
Degrees Høgskolekandidat 2 years - offered at state university colleges and a few private higher education institutions Bachelor - 3 years all universities, specialized university institutions, state university colleges and other higher education institutions. Master 2 years (after 3 years Bachelor) PhD - 3 years (after 2 + 3 years Master) The old system ended in 2007 42
Grading system A excellent: Excellent performance, clearly outstanding. The candidate demonstrates excellent judgement and a high degree of independant thinking. B very good: Very good performance. The candidate demonstrates sound judgement and a very good degree of independant thinking. C good: Good performance in most areas. The candidate demonstrates a reasonable degree of judgement and independant thinking in most areas. D satisfactory: Good performance, but with significant shortcomings. The candidate demonstrates a limited degree of judgement and idependant thinking E sufficient: Performance that meets the minimum criteria, but not more. The candidate demonstrates a very limited degree of judgment and independant thinking. F fail: Performance that does not meet the minimum criteria. The candidate demonstrates an absence of both judgement and independant thinking 43
Financial support for students The State Educational Loan Funds (Lånekassen) was established in 1947 to provide financial support for students in the form of loans and grants as a part of the policy for equal opportunities to higher education, regardless of social, economic and geographical background. Support is also provided for studies abroad. More information: www.lanekassen.no 44
Norwegian Centre for International Co-operation in Higher Education = SIU Norway s official agency for international programmes and measures related to higher education is the Norwegian Centre for International Co-operation in Higher Education. SIU deals with different aspects of organizing international educational and research co-operation. More information: www.siu.no 45
Agency for quality assurance in Education = NOKUT Norway has a rigorous system for quality assurance in higher education. NOKUT was established by Parliament in 2003 and it is an independant body whose purpose is to safeguard and develop the quality of Norwegian higher education. This is done through evaluation, accreditation and recognition of quality systems, institutions and programmes of study. More information: www.nokut.no 46
Historical overview 1 1536 Reformation. Religious education/confirmation 1568 The guilds re-emerged and a Norwegian apprenticeship system develops 1739 Law regarding rural schools. Right to public education 1811 First university in Norway in Oslo 1814 First Ministry of Education 1884 - Women first admitted to the university 47
Historical overview 2 1896 Legislation on upper secondary general education. 5 years of public education instead of special programmes 1935 Legislation on upper secondary education based on the 7 years compulsory education programme. 1940 Law on vocational schools passed. 1969 Legislation on primary and secondary education. Introduction of 9 year compulsory schooling. Founding of the first regional colleges. 48
Historical overview 3 1974 legislation on upper secondary education integrating vocational + academic education programmes into one system. 1975 - Students with special needs integrated in regular schools. 1994 Reform -94 implemented. Legal right for all young people from 16-19 years of age to 3-years upper secondary education and training. 98 colleges were reorganized and merged into 26 state colleges. 1995 Act concerning universities and colleges. A common basis for the university and the nonuniversity sectors. 49
Historical overview 4 1997 New national curriculum for the 10-year compulsory school 2001 White Paper on higher education. The Quality reform. 2005 Act related to universities and collegessuperceding the Act of 1995 now covering both state and private higher education institutions 2006 Knowledge Promotion 50
Useful links The Education Mirror gives every year an Analysis of primary and secondary education and training in Norway http://www.udir.no/upload/forskning/2009/the_ed ucation_mirror_2008.pdf The Ministry of Education and Research http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kd.html?id=586 51