An introduction to Education in Norway SIU-project BU and VUC 2006

Nature of Education: Education in Norway is mainly public in nature. Education in Norway is mainly public in nature. Based on the principle: ONE SCHOOL FOR ALL regardless of : Based on the principle: ONE SCHOOL FOR ALL regardless of : Social backgroundsSocial backgrounds Gender, religion or ethnic backgoundsGender, religion or ethnic backgounds Mental or physical abilitiesMental or physical abilities

The country is divided into 19 regions (counties) and each region is divided into municipalities. The municipality is also divided into sectors and depending on where a person lives, he/she will attend the nearby school. The municipality is also divided into sectors and depending on where a person lives, he/she will attend the nearby school. Individual municipalities are in charge of primary and lower secondary schools Individual municipalities are in charge of primary and lower secondary schools Counties are incharge of the upper secondary school Counties are incharge of the upper secondary school

Compulsory education is made of 10 years: Compulsory education is made of 10 years: 4 years primary school (6-10yrs)4 years primary school (6-10yrs) 3 years lower secondary school (11-13 yrs)3 years lower secondary school (11-13 yrs) 3 years upper secondary school (14-16 yrs)3 years upper secondary school (14-16 yrs)

Education in Norway is free for the first 10 years. Education in Norway is free for the first 10 years. Minimal tuition is taken for higher education yet a State Educational Loan Fund was founded in 1946 to give students loans and living costs if they are willing to attend higher education. Minimal tuition is taken for higher education yet a State Educational Loan Fund was founded in 1946 to give students loans and living costs if they are willing to attend higher education. Support is provided for traveling abroad. Support is provided for traveling abroad.

The aims of the subject are: p 240, 296, 302, 308 To develop pupils’ ability to use spoken and written English/ French/ Finnish/ German, and to encourage them to interact with people from English-speaking and other cultures. To develop pupils’ ability to use spoken and written English/ French/ Finnish/ German, and to encourage them to interact with people from English-speaking and other cultures. To develop pupils’ awareness of communicative situations and English/ French/ Finnish/ German usage and their perspectives on the foreign culture as well as their own. To develop pupils’ awareness of communicative situations and English/ French/ Finnish/ German usage and their perspectives on the foreign culture as well as their own. To promote pupils’ insight into what it is to learn English/ French/ Finnish/ German and their capacity to take charge of their own learning, in order to give all pupils good opportunities to learn the language and lay foundations for further learning in English and learning of other languages. To promote pupils’ insight into what it is to learn English/ French/ Finnish/ German and their capacity to take charge of their own learning, in order to give all pupils good opportunities to learn the language and lay foundations for further learning in English and learning of other languages.

Teacher Education in Norway The Ministry lays down the curriculum regulations for teacher education; The Ministry lays down the curriculum regulations for teacher education; On the basis of these regulations, institutions develop curricula for compulsory and elective course modules On the basis of these regulations, institutions develop curricula for compulsory and elective course modules

Section 54a of the ACT relating to universities and university colleges expresses the purpose of teacher education as follows:

“1. Through teaching, research and scientific development, teacher education shall provide the professional and educational knowledge and practical training needed for the planning, implementation and assessment of teaching, learning, and nurture. Teacher education shall take as its point of departure the various requirements of children attending schools and kindergartens, and shall accord with the objectives of the level of education aimed at in teacher education. “1. Through teaching, research and scientific development, teacher education shall provide the professional and educational knowledge and practical training needed for the planning, implementation and assessment of teaching, learning, and nurture. Teacher education shall take as its point of departure the various requirements of children attending schools and kindergartens, and shall accord with the objectives of the level of education aimed at in teacher education.

2. The education shall promote the personal development and professional ethics of the students, develop their capacity for reflection, rouse their interest in academic and educational development relevant for work in schools and kindergartens, and provide an understanding of the relationship between the teaching profession and the function of the educational system in society.” 2. The education shall promote the personal development and professional ethics of the students, develop their capacity for reflection, rouse their interest in academic and educational development relevant for work in schools and kindergartens, and provide an understanding of the relationship between the teaching profession and the function of the educational system in society.”

Types of Teacher Education Preschool Teacher (3years) Preschool Teacher (3years) General Teacher Education (4 years) General Teacher Education (4 years) Sami General Teacher EducationSami General Teacher Education Teacher Education for Deaf StudentsTeacher Education for Deaf Students Subject Teacher Education (3-4 years) Subject Teacher Education (3-4 years) Vocational Teacher Education (3 years) Vocational Teacher Education (3 years) Practical and Didactic Education (1 year) Practical and Didactic Education (1 year) Integrated Masters Degree (5 years) Integrated Masters Degree (5 years)

General Teacher Education Aims at developing: Aims at developing: Subject CompetenceSubject Competence Didactic CompetenceDidactic Competence Social CompetenceSocial Competence Adaptive and Developmental CompetenceAdaptive and Developmental Competence Professional Ethics CompetenceProfessional Ethics Competence

Alongside the Courses taken, the program should constitute of weeks of Practical Training where students shall undergo a pass/fail mark following each training period. Alongside the Courses taken, the program should constitute of weeks of Practical Training where students shall undergo a pass/fail mark following each training period. The practical trainings is arranged so that the students: The practical trainings is arranged so that the students: Become familiar with the diversity of professional tasksBecome familiar with the diversity of professional tasks Encounter the practice field as an arena for study of the subjects and for explanationEncounter the practice field as an arena for study of the subjects and for explanationhttp://www-lu.hive.no/fagplaner/0506/Allmenn/allmenn_plan_praksis_ htm

Develop knowledge of class management and team work.Develop knowledge of class management and team work. Develop reflective and analytic skillsDevelop reflective and analytic skills Work in multicultural learning environmentsWork in multicultural learning environments Experiencing parental involvementExperiencing parental involvement Combine theory and practiceCombine theory and practice Gain experience of working methods that promote entrepreneurshipGain experience of working methods that promote entrepreneurship

Lower Secondary SchoolPrimary School Foreign Languages Level Total Gr Christian Knowledge and Religious and Ethical Education Norwegian Mathematics Social Studies Art and Crafts Science and the Environment English Music Home Economics Physical Education Free Activities Total Allocation of Subjects per week

TotalGr. 8-10Gr. 5-7Gr Christian Knowledge and Religious and Ethical Education Norwegian Mathematics Social Studies Art and Crafts Science and the Environment English Music Home Economics Physical Education 304 Compulsory Additional subjects 95 Class and pupil council activities 247 Free activities Periods per year School’s and pupil’s options 1111Finish/ Sami as a second Language