I’ve spent a great deal of time talking about my experiences in Norway so far as a mother of primary school children, but I’m here to work with secondary schools, so I should probably tell you a bit how schools work once you complete 7th grade in Norway.
Secondary education in Norway is broken into two sections, ungdomsskolen (lower secondary schools) and videregåendeskolen (upper secondary schools). UGS is 8th to 10th grade. It is usually 13-15-year-olds while VGS is grades 11th to 13th. This means that students usually don’t complete videregåendeskole until they are 19 years old in Norway. Lower secondary schooling is compulsory in Norway. Once students turn 16 and complete 10th grade, they can make the choice not to continue in school, although the majority of them do. This also means that when students enter VGS, they are a bit older than when they enter high school in the United States. These few years also seem to change the dynamics of schools and classes.
Norway has a national curriculum, but it is similar to Common Core Standards, where there are certain learning outcomes required prior to graduation. Part of why I am in Norway this year is because there are requirements for learning about the United States and our history and culture in the national curriculum. Students learn about the Civil Rights Movement, American geography, American government and politics, and other important eras in American history. Students are also very interested in American culture and teenagers.
When students enter videregående skole they choose a program they want to focus on. Students choose to either specialize in General Studies or Vocational programs. Either program has core subjects of Norwegian, mathematics, science, social studies, geography, history, religion and ethics, physical education, and English. General studies students also need to take at least one foreign language course.
General studies students also choose a focus area. It could be English, languages, social studies, science, or programs such as music, dance, and drama; sports and physical education; media and communication; and art, design, and architecture.
If students choose vocational studies, there are over 180 certificates they can focus on. If students choose a vocational program, they can still attend university, but it also gives them the in-depth training in a trade and prepares them for the exams in that trade. The programs are diverse, from carpentry and mechanics to health care, floral design, and the food industry. To read more about these programs and all the areas students can focus on in Norway, click on the link here.
The chart gives you an idea of how upper secondary education is divided. General studies students, as well as some vocational students, are done in 3 years. But, other vocational students take up to 4 years to complete their degree. Many of them complete internships during the final year so that they are prepared to enter the workforce.
Some schools in Norway have special vocational or general studies programs that they focus on. I visited one school, Edvard Munch VGS, that has one of the only jewelry making programs in the country. It also has a top ballet program. Students come from all over the country to attend the program. Another, Sauda VGS, has the top volleyball program in the country. They also have a Service and Transport program where students take a 19-week course to learn how to drive a variety of trucks and other larger vehicles. The school owns all the vehicles that students learn how to drive. Some of the programs of study are run by counties, so certain schools have specific programs they offer.
Getting into programs is solely based on grades. Students will apply to programs, but with highly competitive programs, they must have high grades from UGS in order to be admitted. For some programs, such as sports, music, and dance, they must also audition for the program.
The opportunities for students to engage in a vocation as part of school and not as a separate program is different than in the US. It seems there can still often be perceived differences between general studies students and vocational students. I have often been told that some of the general studies students aren’t strong English speakers or that I need to slow down when I talk so they can understand. But, so far the vocational students have been great. Even if they are shy, or nervous about speaking with me in English, they seem to understand what I am saying and their English is far better than my non-Norwegian.
No matter what program you choose, all students have to take English at least one year and there are other required subjects as well. So it is not that the vocational programs don’t give students the academic skills they need to go on to university, but they allow students the opportunity to pursue an area of interest to them and get hands-on experience early on.
Schooling is also free in Norway. Students do not need to pay for going to University and all job training that happens in the programs they choose is free. If students have an internship, they are paid for that internship. This also gives students more of an experience in being trusted and treated as responsible humans.
I am still continuing to learn about the school system in Norway. And, as the year progresses I will share more thoughts. If you’re interested in knowing more about how Norway approaches schooling, you can visit the Ministry of Education. I have also found the sites Viblno and The Directorate of Education both helpful with a great deal of information translated into English.