Democracy and citizenship as an interdisciplinary topic in school shall give the pupils knowledge about the basic tenets of democracy and its values and rules, and prepare them for participating in democratic processes. The teaching and training shall give the pupils an understanding of the relationship between democracy and key human rights, such as freedom of speech, the right to vote and freedom of association. They shall gain insight into the fact that democracy has different forms and expressions.
By working with the democracy and citizenship topic the pupils shall develop an understanding of the relationship between individual rights and obligations. Individuals have the right to participate in political activities, while society is dependent on citizens exercising their rights to participate in politics and influence developments in the civil society. The school shall stimulate the pupils to become active citizens, and give them the competence to participate in developing democracy in Norway.
The teaching and training shall give the pupils knowledge and skills to face challenges in accordance with democratic principles. They shall understand dilemmas that arise when recognising both the preponderance of the majority and the rights of the minority. They shall train their ability to think critically, learn to deal with conflicts of opinion and respect disagreement. Through their work with the topic the pupils shall learn why democracy cannot be taken for granted and understand that it must be developed and maintained.