Our responsibilities
The Directorate has the overall responsibility for supervising kindergarten, education and the governance of the education sector, as well as the implementation of Acts of Parliament and regulations.
The Directorate is responsible for all national statistics concerning kindergarten, primary and secondary education. On the basis of these statistics it initiates, develops and monitors research and development.
The objective of the Directorate is to ensure that all children, pupils and apprentices receive the high quality education they are entitled to.
Facts about Norwegian education
In our publication The Norwegian Education Mirror 2022 you will find statistics and analysis about kindergartens, primary and secondary education in Norway. The publication tracks the pupils' entire educational trajectory from kindergarten to upper secondary education or training.
You can also find facts about the state of education in Norway in Education at a Glance 2022, OECD.
Dictionary
Contact
Mailing address:
The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training
P.O. Box. 9359 Grønland
N-0135 OSLO NORWAY
E-mail: post@udir.no
Phone: + 47 23 30 12 00
Fax: + 47 23 30 12 99
For more information about the Norwegian system of kindergarten and education, visit the website of The Ministry of Education and Research.
The Norwegian education system
Assessment and recognition of foreign vocational education and training
The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills assesses the scope, level and vocational content of foreign vocational education and training in comparison to a Norwegian trade or journeyman's certificate.
Norwegian vocational education and training (VET)
VET is part of the formal upper secondary education system in Norway. From the school year 2020–21, upper secondary VET in Norway covers 10 education programmes that lead to more than 180 different trade or journeyman’s certificates.
Certificates and grading scales
Here you will find information about the different types of certificates, the Norwegian grading scale and validity.
Curricula and framework plans
Curriculum for Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Education
The Curriculum for Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Education comprises two parts: the Core Curriculum and subject curricula for each subject. New subject curricula were in place from August 2020.
Framework Plan for Kindergartens
Framework Plan for the content and tasks of kindergartens entered into force on 1 August 2017.
Framework Plan for SFO
This framework plan applies to the work in out-of-school-hours care (SFO). SFO must facilitate play, cultural and leisure activities based on the age, functional level and interests of the children, and provide the children with care and supervision.
Framework for Basic Skills
This Framework is a tool for subject curricula groups appointed by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training to develop and revise National Subject Curricula.
Publications in English on various subjects
The sites presenting the reports may be in Norwegian, but the downloadable report is in English. Click "Last ned rapporten" to access the PDF, unless otherwise directed.
- The Education Mirror
- Professional Digital Competence Framework for Teachers
- Observations on the national assessment for learning programme
- The exam in primary and lower secondary education
- The Nordic approach to introducing computational thinking and programming in compulsory education
- Background report, Norway : What works in innovation in education - Improving education for adults with basic skills needs through formative assessment
- Evaluation of programmes for the prevention of behavioural problem and for the development of social competence
- OECD Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education : Norway
- Norwegian education system (Eurydice)
- Teachers and trainers changing world Norway 2022
- Vocational education and training in Europe: Norway 2018