The Education Act refers to:

  • The right and obligation to primary and lower secondary education, and the right to upper secondary education.
  • Private primary and lower secondary schools that do not receive government subsidies and private primary and lower secondary home schooling.
  • Primary and lower secondary education and upper secondary education for adults.

The Education Act states that it is mainly the municipalities who are responsible for public primary and lower secondary schools, and that the county municipalities are responsible for public upper secondary education.

The Education Act contain rules on, among other things:

  • Scope and content of education
  • The organisation of teaching
  • Differentiated instruction and individually adapted education
  • The physical and psychosocial school environment (also includes bullying)
  • Disciplinary measures, physical interventions and prevention
  • Pupil and parent participation (including council bodies)
  • School leadership and teacher competence
  • School transport
  • In-service training at a training establishment
  • Complaints about the inadequate fulfilment of rights
  • Supervision by the central government

The Regulations to the Education Act contain rules on, among other things:

  • pupil assessment and schools’ feedback to pupils and parents
  • complaints about final grades or exams
  • certificates and attendance records
  • the safety of pupils
  • the right to the required advice on social-pedagogical matters and educational and vocational advice
  • admission to upper secondary education
  • dissemination of apprentices and trainees to apprenticeship companies
  • a follow-up service for those who do not complete upper secondary education

In addition to the Regulations to the Education Act, there are curricula for primary and secondary education. These are adopted pursuant to the Act, and have the status of regulations. The curriculum framework consists of the core curriculum, distribution of teaching hours per subject, and subject curricula, and is intended to guide the content of the education.

These regulations are intended to ensure that the environment in kindergartens, schools, after-school programmes and homework assistance schemes promotes children’s and pupils’ health, well-being, recreation and learning, and that illness, injury and serious incidents are prevented.

The Independent Schools Act regulate private primary and lower secondary schools and private upper secondary schools. The Act contain rules concerning the approval of private schools entitled to state subsidies. In order for a private school to be approved, it must operate on one of the following bases:

  • Life philosophy
  • Recognised educational direction
  • International
  • Specially adapted upper secondary education combined with top-level sports
  • Norwegian primary and lower secondary education abroad
  • Specially adapted education for pupils with documented needs
  • Upper secondary education in small and protected crafts

Norway is obliged by international conventions to ensure that children have the opportunity to choose alternatives to public school. Through the approval scheme, the state will ensure that

children and young people who attend an independent primary school fulfil the education obligation according to the Education Act.

The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Utdanningsdirektoratet) processes applications for the establishment of private schools. They also supervise that schools meet the requirements of the regulations and ensures that state subsidies benefits pupils.

Two regulations have been adopted under the Independent Schools Act. The general regulation on Independent Schools contains provisions regarding, among other things, student assessment, examinations, appeals, and transportation. The financial regulation under the Independent Schools Act sets out rules concerning budgeting, accounting, auditing, and financial control for independent schools.

The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training provide interpretations of the regulations when there is a need for clarification at national level. They are also responsible for circulars. Guidance has been prepared that explains the regulations in certain areas and how they can be applied.

The County Governor’s task is to inform and guide school owners, the general public and relevant target groups about the regulations and changes to regulations in primary and lower secondary education and about independent schools.

Questions about regulations

If you have questions about the regulations, you should first raise the matter with your school, or with the school administration in your municipality (for primary schools) or the school administration in your county municipality (for upper secondary education). If you believe that you have not received a satisfactory answer from the municipality or county municipality, you can contact the County Governor.