Quality indicators for SNE - Norway

Education for all is a basic precept of Norwegian educational policy. Children and young people must have an equal right to education, regardless of where they live, gender, social and cultural background or any special needs. All public education in Norway is free of charge, while kindergartens have parental fees. Education must be organised in a lifelong learning perspective if we are to constructively meet changes in society.

Responsibility

The Norwegian Parliament (the Storting) and the Government define the goals and decide the framework for the education sector. The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for carrying out national educational policy. National standards are ensured through legislation, regulations, curricula and framework plans. 

Kindergartens

The Government has the overall responsibility for quality development, management  and financing of the kindergarten sector and allocates earmarked funds for the running of kindergartens. The County Governors act as links between the Ministry of Education and Research and the kindergarten sector. The County Governors implement kindergarten policy through development work, administrative tasks, supervision and guidance for municipalities. The municipalities are responsible for providing and running municipal kindergartens, as well as for approving and supervising both public and private kindergartens in the municipality. The municipalities must also ensure that the kindergartens are operated within their approval framework and that the contents complies with legislation, regulations and the framework plan. In addition the municipalities have an active responsibility for providing guidance. Municipal authorities must ensure that public subsidies are paid on an equal basis to all the approved kindergartens in their municipality. Kindergarten owners are responsible for the contents of the individual kindergarten. The Parents’ Council for each kindergarten determines a year plan ensuring the participation of parents and staff in the framing of the educational contents. Kindergarten owners are responsible for employing adequate and qualified staff.

Primary and Secondary Education and Training

The state bears the overall responsibility for the Education Act with regulations, contents and financing of primary and secondary education and training. The County Governors are to act as links between the Ministry of Education and Research and the Directorate for Education and Training on the one hand and the education sector in municipalities and counties on the other. The County Governors are responsible for supervision and dealing with complaints related to regulations, participation in quality development, information, guidance and various administrative matters.

The municipalities are responsible for operating and administering primary and lower secondary schools, whereas the county authorities are responsible for upper secondary education and training. Legislation and regulations, including the National Curriculum, form a binding framework, but within this framework the municipal and county authorities, schools and teachers can influence the implementation of the education and training. Each school has a head teacher and various boards, councils and committees. The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training is an executive subordinate agency for the Ministry of Education and Research. The Directorate’s main tasks are to promote quality development, quality assessment, analysis and documentation in primary and secondary education and training, and to perform administrative tasks connected with primary and secondary education and training, in addition to bearing the overall national responsibility for supervision of primary and secondary education and training.

Tertiary Vocational Education

Tertiary vocational education is a short vocational alternative to higher education. It is regulated by national legislation and is offered partly by county authorities and partly by private parties.

Higher Education

The state is responsible for universities and university colleges, which are directly subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Research. Each institution has a board which is responsible for the direction and organisation of operations. Accredited institutions have been awarded extensive academic powers and may establish and terminate their own courses of study. University colleges decide for themselves which studies and topics they are to offer at first degree level. Universities determine for themselves which subjects and topics they wish to offer at all levels, including doctoral programs. The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education are also instrumental in the governance of the universities and university colleges.