What You Need To Know...
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Information about the Student Exchange to Norway:
While on an International Exchange Program students have the opportunity to learn at an international school and the "school of life" while they experience another culture, immerse themselves in the language and become a member of the host family. Begin your international experience now! Participate in an International Exchange program with YES Canada!
Information about the Student Exchange to Norway:
The Norwegian school system is divided into three parts: Elementary school (Barneskole) is for ages 6 to 13, lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole) is for ages 13-16, and upper secondary school (VideregAende skole) is for ages 16 to 19. School is compulsory until the age of 16.
Lower secondary school covers grades 8 to 10, (entering at age 13 until 16). This is when students begin receiving academic grades for their work. The success of these grades is necessary for the application process to enter the high school of their choice. At this level, students can choose one elective (Valgfag). The remainder of the curriculum includes German, French and Spanish language, plus English and Norwegian studies.
Upper secondary school is for students aged 16 to 19. It is three years of study, with the choice to follow one of two streams; vocational (yrkesfag), which includes things like electronics and carpentry, accounting and business, or general education (studiespesialisering), which includes languages, history, geography, etc.
Norway is a very unique country in the Europe, given its rugged geography and its isolation compared to the other regions. Study here would offer a rare insight into a beautiful cultural landscape.
School System
Education in Norway is mandatory for all children aged 6–16. The school year in Norway runs from late August to mid June the following year. The Christmas holiday from mid December to early January divides the Norwegian school year into two terms
The Norwegian school system can be divided into three parts: Elementary school (Barneskole, age 6-13), lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole, age 13-16), and upper secondary school (VideregÂende skole, age 16-19).
Lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole, grades 8-10, age 13-16)
When the students enter lower secondary school, at age 12 or 13, they begin getting grades for their work. The grades they get will determine whether they get accepted at their high school of choice or not. From the eighth grade, the students can choose one elective (valgfag). Typical subjects the students are offered are the languages German, French and Spanish as well as additional English and Norwegian studies. Before the educational reform starting August 2006, students could choose a practical elective instead of the languages.
Upper secondary school (VideregÂende skole, grades VG1-VG3, age 16-19)
Upper secondary school (akin to high school) is 3 years of optional schooling, although recent changes to society (few jobs available for the age group) and law (government required by law of 1994 to offer secondary schooling in one form or another to everyone between 16 and 18 who submit the application form) has made it largely unavoidable in practice.
Secondary education in Norway is primarily based on public schools: In 2007, 93% of upper secondary school students attended public schools[2]. Until 2005, Norwegian law held private secondary schools to be illegal unless they offered a 'religious or pedagogic alternative', so the only private schools in existence were religious (Christian), Steiner/Waldorf, Montessori schools and Danielsen. The first "standard" private upper secondary schools opened in the fall of 2005. Prior to 1994 there were three branches of upper secondary schooling: "General" (language, history etc.), "mercantile" (accounting etc.) and "vocational" (electronics, carpentry etc.) studies. The high school reform of 1994 (Reform 94) merged these branches into a single system.
Since the introduction of the reform Kunnskapsl¯ftet fall 2006 (the knowledge promotion), a student will apply for a general education (studiespesialisering) or a vocational studies (yrkesfag) path. Inside these main paths there are many sub-paths to follow.
