English
About NAFO
The National Centre for Multicultural Education (NAFO) was established
on 1st January 2004 as one of the steps undertaken by the Norwegian
government to implement its strategic plan: "Equal Education in
Practice! Strategy for better learning and greater participation of
linguistic minorities in kindergartens, schools and education". A
revised edition of this plan was published in February 2007.
The Centre shares responsibility with other educational institutions for
the implementation of about half of the 38 initiatives in the revised
strategic plan.
NAFO builds on the strategy developed by the Centre for Competence
Development in Multicultural Schools (SEFS), but extends its field of
work to include kindergartens, adult education institutions and
universities and university colleges.
Collaboration structures developed with key professional environments
within the school system in the different regions in Norway, known as
the SEFS-wheel, will be further developed and maintained by NAFO. SEFS
focus-schools now constitute NAFO's school network.
NAFO runs competence-building programmes for work within, and leadership
of, institutions concerned with the education of linguistic minorities
and for the development of inclusive multicultural learning communities
in Norway.
The Centre's target groups are day-care centre owners, early childhood learning centre owners, school owners, school administrators and teachers, university colleges and universities.
The Centre collaborates with specialist environments at universities,
university colleges and resource centres, and works to promote the
establishment of networks in this field at national and local levels. In
addition, the Centre collaborates with institutions such as the
Norwegian Board of Education, VOX, the County Governors Offices,
resource centres in the municipalities and counties, FUG, UDI, KIM and
relevant immigrant organizations.
The Centre is located at Oslo University College and is allocated funds
in the same way as are other national centres.