About the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen)

Objectives

The objective of the educational support from Lånekassen is

  • to remove inequality and to promote equal opportunities so that the pursuit of education is possible regardless of geographical conditions, age, sex and economical and social positions
  • to ensure that the work environment for students is satisfactory so that the students may work effectively
  • to ensure a steady supply of educated labour

History

  • Lånekassen was established in 1947, in the continuation of a series of welfare bills for students in higher education
  • in the first year, a total of NOK 3,3 million was allocated to ca. 2200 students
  • in the late 1950s, support was extended to pupils in upper secondary education
  • means testing of the parents’ economy was disbanded in the early 1970s
  • the 1980s saw a comprehensive decentralization of Lånekassen's organization and the growing importance of regional offices
  • the system of grants and loans was further developed and differentiated in the 1980s and 1990s
  • computer systems for mass-processing of applications were installed in the 1980s and 1990s

Activities and key figures 2004
  • Lånekassen has about 740,000 customers in total
  • in 2003-2004, NOK 16 thousand millions was allocated to about 263,000 customers
  • in 2003-2004, NOK 6,4 thousand millions was allocated as grants and NOK 9,7 thousand millions was given as loans
  • there are about 476,000 customers who are currently repaying their loans
  • in 2004, NOK 6,9 thousand millions was repaid
  • the outstanding debt is about NOK 82,3 thousand millions
  • tn 2004, Lånekassen assessed around 785,000 applications
  • the average assessment period was 11 days in 2003-2004 for applications for educational support
  • the average assessment period was 14 days in 2004 for applications for payment deferrals

Organization

  • the head office is in Oslo
  • Lånekassen has regional offices in Tromsø, Trondheim, Ørsta, Bergen and Stavanger
  • Lånekassen spent around 350 man-labour years. About 240 of these were at the head office and 110 at the regional offices outside Oslo
  • the running expenses amounted to NOK 270,9 million, of this, labour costs amounted to NOK 140,9 million net
  • two thirds of the staff have higher education
  • sixty-two percent of the staff are women