PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaIn January 2004, the Centre for Reading Research at the University of Stavangerwas designated the National Centre for Reading Education, and subsequently changedits name to National Centre for Reading Education and Research. It offers supportand guidance to local authorities, libraries, and schools and is responsible, alone or incooperation with others, for a number of the measures included in the action plan.Overview of the Education SystemThe Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for the Norwegian school system.Individual municipalities are responsible for managing primary and lower-secondaryschools, while county authorities have responsibility for upper-secondary schools. TheMinistry provides the guidelines and monitors outcomes. Municipalities, schools, andteachers are responsible for deciding what learning materials to use and what teachingmethods to adopt within the framework of statutes and national curricula.In 2004, the Directorate for Education and Training was established as the executiveagency for the Ministry of Education and Research. The Directorate is responsible forthe development of primary and secondary education. In this capacity, the Directoratehas the overall responsibility for supervising education and the governance of theeducation sector, as well as the implementation of acts of Parliament and regulations.The Directorate also is responsible for managing the Norwegian Support System forSpecial Education, state-owned schools, and the educational direction of the NationalEducation Centers.Role of Preprimary EducationPreschool education in Norway is voluntary and the responsibility of the Ministry ofEducation and Research. It is the goal of the Government that all preschool children attendkindergarten. In 2000, approximately 52% of children, ages 0–5, received preprimaryeducation (barnehage). In 2004, this figure increased by 20%. The attendance rate islower for younger children and rises as they get older. In 2005, there were 6,278 childcareinstitutions in Norway, with the majority (54%) being private preschool institutions. 2NorwayStructure of the Education SystemCompulsory education in Norway consists of primary and lower-secondary education.Children start school in the calendar year they become 6 and finish their compulsoryeducation in the calendar year they turn 16. The primary level consists of grades 1–7,and the lower-secondary level consists of grades 8–10. As a result of Norway’s scatteredpopulation, 40% of primary and lower-secondary schools are so small that primaryand lower-secondary levels are often combined in the same school, and children ofdifferent ages are taught in the same class. After lower-secondary school, most studentsattend upper-secondary school, typically for an additional 3 years. Most students areenrolled in public schools. Private schools are considered a supplement to publiceducation, with about 2% of the students attending private schools at the primary andlower-secondary level. 3296