Education in Norway is mandatory for all children aged 6–16. Education is guaranteed by the Norwegian state, within the system and thus education is free at public schools. However, most schooling actually begins when the child turns one, and gets placed in a barnehage, or day care. It is important to apply for a spot in the barnehage from the time they are born, due to long waiting lines. Your child’s barnehage is tied to your residential neighbourhood, but there are hundreds in the city, often situated in some of the choicest real estate. The government gives you Kontantstøtte until your child is 3 to help pay for barnehage.

The school year in Norway runs from late August to mid June the following year. The Juleferie (Christmas holiday) from mid December to early January divides the Norwegian school year into two terms. Children also have a vinterferie (winter break) and a Påskeferie  (Easter break), which are often spent skiing. School usually lets out at 15.00 and parents are free to leave work to pick up children from school.

Barnehage (day-care)

There are different kinds of day-care to choose from and apply to. Below is a breakdown:

• Familiebarnehage is day-care for children from newborns to 3 years old that is run in a private home between the hours of 7am to 5pm.  Apply with the person running this type of day care.
• Korttidsbarnehageris a day-care open for 6-21 hours a week for children ages 1-6.
• Halvdagsbarnehage is a day-care for 21-31 hours a week for children ages 1-6.
• Heldagsbarnehage is a full day-care open five days a week for children aged 1-6.
• Åpen barnehage is an open day-care for mothers who stay home with their children. The mothers have a chance to meet with other adults while the day-care person cares for the children.
• Barnepark is an outdoor day-care open between 3 and 4 hours a day.

There are both Kommunal and private barnehager. To apply for your child to attend either barnepark or barnehage, contact your bydel kontor. Keep in mind that Norwegian children are expected to spend a majority of time outside playing and getting exercise. This means walks in the park and even skiing. Fresh air is a mandatory part of a barnehage and some barnehage are not much more than a playground and a small cabin.

This can seem like punishment and be shocking to mothers from certain cultures, but Norwegian children haven’t suffered from it. Instead, they seem to love being outside, wrapped in layers, trudging through snow. Required outfits for barnehage are thick winter overalls in bright colours, and rubber boots. You will spend much of your time changing your toddlers in and out of these outdoor clothes.

School System Basics

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 (Videregående skole, age 16-19). Elementary and lower secondary schools are mandatory for all children aged 6–16. The grades they get in Ungdomskkole will determine whether they get accepted at their high school of choice or not.

Upper secondary school (similar 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) have made it largely unavoidable in practice.

Students graduating from their Videregående studies are called Russ in Norwegian. Russetid (this graduation period) is anticipated for years and celebrated with a shocking display of wild parties and festivities, which are often held in pimped-out busses with concert-quality sound systems. The Russ students are recognizable by their mono-coloured red or blue overalls. For some reason, these celebrations take place a few weeks before the final examinations of the final year. There is an ongoing debate on whether or not to move it to after the exams.