Comparative Education: A Detailed Look into Countries' Education Systems

Norway

EDUCATION SYSTEM OF NORWAY

Let's discover the education in Norway!

Socio-cultural context
Education System
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Teachers and Teaching Profession
Technology and Innovation in Norway
Comparison between Turkey and Norway
Suggested Materials and Some Visuals

Socio-Cultural Context

Norway is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe, and is situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
It is home to 5.4 million residents most of whom live in urban areas.
The capital city of Norway is Oslo.

Politics and Government

Norway has a constitutional democracy headed by a prime minister.

They have a king but is representetive and ceremonial.

The current king of Norway is Harald V.

Language

Norwegian people have two forms of their official language.

Bokmål is used in most written works and urban areas.

Nynorsk is a combination of rural dialects.

Economy

Norway has the third place in OECD Working Hours with 27.4 hours per week.

The currency in Norway is Krone and economy is based on natural resources.

The major industries are oil and natural gas, fishing, shipbuilding andpaper production.

Culture

People are strongly focused on preserving their culture.

Tolerance, kindness and independence are valued.

Education is influenced by Egalitarianism, the belief in equality.

Wearing folk costumes at wedding and other festive events is a tradition.

Biggest holiday is Constitution Day on May 17.

Compulsory Education

Compulsory education covers ten years, divided into seven years of primary education and three years of lower secondary education.
Education is free and focused on equity and personalized learning.
The National Curriculum sets objectives and quality standards.

Upper Secondary Education:

After compulsory education, students have a three-year entitlement to upper secondary education.
Three alternative programs are offered, including general studies and initial vocational education and training (IVET).
The National Curriculum governs the content of upper secondary education.

Vocational Education and Training (IVET):

IVET programs lead to vocational competence or trade certificates. Duration is 3-5 years, with a mix of school-based and apprenticeship training. Supplementary one-year programs are available for general university admissions certification.

Tertiary/Continuous Vocational Education and Training (CVET):

Tertiary vocational education is a shorter alternative to higher education.
It is based on upper secondary education and is flexible, lasting from six months to two years.

Higher Education

Higher education is generally free.
Admission pathways include upper secondary school certificates, vocational qualifications, completion of ECTS credits, the 23/5 pathway, and recognition of prior learning.
Institutions include universities, specialized university institutions, and university colleges.

CURRICULUM and PEDAGOGY

Norway places a significant emphasis on education, viewing it as not just a gateway to professional success but also as a platform for personal growth and social engagement.

Barnehage (Kindergarten): For children aged 1 to 5 years. Though not mandatory, most Norwegian children attend kindergarten.

Barneskole (Primary School): For children aged 6 to 13 years. This covers 1st to 7th grade.

Ungdomsskole (Lower Secondary School): For ages 13 to 16, covering 8th to 10th grade.

Norway follows an integrated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system, aligning with Sweden and New Zealand.

• The Norwegian Framework Plan for Kindergartens aims to provide a foundation for lifelong learning, emphasizing holistic child development.

The curriculum covers children from birth to compulsory schooling, ensuring a continuous and seamless educational experience.

Norway incorporates six-year-olds into compulsory primary education, marking the beginning of formal schooling.

The Norwegian framework emphasizes age-appropriate and needs-based pedagogy, tailoring activities to children's levels of function, knowledge, and understanding.

• Consideration is given to cultural, religious, linguistic, socio-economic, and ideological backgrounds, aiming to build on children's existing experiences and interests.

TEACHERS AND TEACHING PROFESSION IN NORWAY

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

They work at kindergardens and the first four grades of primary school.
To become a preschool teacher in Norway, a bachelor’s degree from a university college is required.

ADJUNCT TEACHER

They work with the children between 5th and 10th grades of lower secondary school.
To become an adjunct requires a bachelor's degree in a particular subject from a university or university college. In addition, a one-year course in pedagogy is required.

LECTURER

They work at upper secondary school and high schools.
Lecturers have a master's degree from a university, along with a pedagogy course.

Teacher Salaries in Norway

In Norway, the highest average monthly salaries among teachers are found among university and higher education teachers. In 2022, they had an average salary of 55,600 Norwegian kroner per month. Secondary education teachers had the second highest average salaries with nearly 53,000 kroner per month. All other teaching personnel had an average salary lower than the national average. The lowest average salaries were found among early childhood teachers, who earned less than 44,000 kroner on average. To make these more understandable, average salary for teachers is 53.000 NOK which makes about 4600 Euros and these numbers can differ in different parts of the country, and level of experience in teaching is important.

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN NORWAY

Norway is among the most digital countries in Europe.

Electricity: The government has offered to offer an application-based additional loan of NOK 3000 to students.

Computers and devices: With the 2017-21 Action Plan for Digitalization in Primary and Secondary Education, students in basic education are provided with ICT devices that support their learnings.

Students

They give importance to digital literacy. The 2022 National Strategy to Improve Digital Participation and Competence in the Population

Teachers

The Norwegian Center for ICT in Education introduced the concept of "professional digital competence" for teacher education.

Norway's top five innovations in corporate policy and practice

(1) More external evaluation of primary school classrooms.

(2) Increased use of student evaluations to monitor progress in school.

(3) Increased monitoring of secondary achievement data.

(4) Increased use of achievement data to evaluate principals.

(5) More parental involvement in school projects, programs and field trips.

Norway's five most important innovations in pedagogical practices

(1) More self-direction in early reading lessons.

(2) Increased use of answer explanation in primary mathematics.

(3) More association of lessons with real life in primary school readings.

(4) Greater Internet availability in primary and secondary grades.

(5) More use of textbooks as primary resources in primary school science.

Turkey vs Norway

Governance and Oversight:

In Norway, local and regional authorities have significant influence and share responsibilities in education.

Turkey's education system is more centralized, with the Ministry of National Education (MEB) planning and directing processes from the center, and provincial and district directorates implementing these plans.

Duration of Education:

The duration of preschool education is longer in Norway compared to Turkey.

Turkey has a longer compulsory education period compared to Norway.

Higher Education Opportunities:

Norway has institutions considered outside of post-secondary education after upper secondary education.

In higher education, Norway offers more grants and credit opportunities to students compared to Turkey.

Quality of Education and Participation Rates:

Norway exhibits higher performance in participation rates in primary, secondary, and vocational education, as well as in the quality of science-mathematics education, compared to Turkey.

Norway surpasses Turkey in terms of school management and overall education system quality.

Financial Support:

Norway provides more financial support in the education sector compared to Turkey.

Norway's education spending as a percentage of GDP is higher than that of Turkey.

Advantages:

Overall, Norway holds a more advantageous position in education, particularly in higher education and education quality.

In the video, you can have a clear glimpse at the Norway education system.