Lifelong
learning and educational opportunities for adults are important principles of
Norwegian educational policy. The aim is to provide suitable conditions in
order to strengthen the competence of the adult population. Updated and new
competence is necessary to improve competitiveness and increase flexibility in
a changing working life. New competence
can give individuals greater freedom of choice and possibilities to realise
their wishes and needs.
A major challenge in the years to come will be the work involved in
implementing the Competence Reform. The reform shall aim to meet the need for
new or changed competence on society, in the workplace and by the individual.
The Competence Reform embraces all adults and is based on interaction between
several actors.
The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has decided that adults shall have
a statutory right to primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education.
The right to upper secondary education has been put in force from autumn 2000,
while the right to primary and lower secondary education was implemented in
August 2002.
Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to improve
educational opportunities for disadvantaged groups through adult education.
This particularly applies to adults with especially weak schooling, various
groups of physically disabled persons, adults with reading and writing
difficulties and adult immigrants.
There are more than 1 million participants in adult education each year.
Training takes place in the public educational system, adult education
associations, folk high schools, distance education institutions and other
private institutions and on the workplace.
Municipalities are responsible for primary and lower secondary education
for adults and for training in Norwegian language and civic life for adult
immigrants. County authorities are responsible for upper secondary education
for adults. Over 50 000 persons participate annually in adult education
provided by municipal and county authorities. Adult education associations and
distance education institutions also offer courses at these levels.
Adult education
associations
Folk high schools
Distance education
Training for the
Labour Market
Study financing
1.1 Adult education
associations
Adult education associations are run by
voluntary organisations, such as the Folkeuniversitetet Adult Education
Association and the Workers’ Educational Association of Norway, which are
primarily concerned with adult education. Courses are offered in a wide variety
of subjects, ranging from recreational courses to vocational courses and
courses at university and college level. Twenty-two adult education
associations receive state support to hold such courses.
700 000 adults participate annually in
courses held by adult education associations.
24 000 adults participate in courses at
the upper secondary level.
48 000 adults attend courses at university
and college level.
1.2 Folk high schools
Folk high schools have approximately 7 000
places divided between about 80 schools located throughout Norway. Most of them
are boarding schools that are owned and operated by several different types of
groups and bodies, ranging from Christian organisations to local councils and
independent foundations. Folk high schools provide general courses for young
people and adults, but there are no formal examinations.
1.3 Distance education
Distance education is widespread in
Norway. Traditionally this has consisted of correspondence courses, but a
number of multimedia programmes are now offered. Each year, over 40 000
students complete courses held by 14 authorised distance education
institutions. In the coming years, distance education will play an important
part in providing alternative and more flexible facilities to meet the need for
continuing education and training.
1.4 Training for the
Labour Market
Training for the labour market consists of
a cooperation between the authorities responsible for the labour market and the
education authorities. Courses give vocational qualifications and are provided
by a number of different agencies including upper secondary schools, autonomous
resource centres attached to the schools, study associations or private
companies. In 1999, 22 400 persons took part in such training courses for the
labour market. Such courses are financed in full by the State.
1.5 Study financing
The State
Educational Loan Fund was founded in 1947. The
fund provides financial support to students in the form of loans and grants.
The support can be obtained by students attending either upper secondary or
higher education. The fund enables people to study regardless of their social
and economic backgrounds. Such support is also available for studies abroad.
