Strategy for increased learning and greater participation for language minorities in kindergartens, education and training 2007-2009.

The Strategic Plan Equal Education in Practice! 2004-2009 was launched in 2003 and has been in force since 2004. A revised version of the Strategic Plan was presented on 12 February 2007.

A number of measures from the original Plan have been carried out whereas others have been initiated and are currently being followed up. The revised Strategic Plan also includes many new measures. It places great importance on language teaching for minority groups. Mastering Norwegian is important for equal participation in education and training.  The Strategy provides a coherent perspective of the teaching of people of all ages from minority language backgrounds.

Emphasis is on creating a multicultural, inclusive and equal education. The overall objective of the Plan is to direct attention towards and initiate measures designed to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities for learning, education, participation in working life and in the rest of society. This does not mean that education is to be the same for everybody. It is to be adapted so that each learner is given the chance to develop his/her own abilities and to adapt the education to meet his/her own needs. 

The Strategy has five partial objectives that focus on: children of kindergarten age, pupils in primary and lower secondary schools, pupils and apprentices in upper secondary education and training, students in higher education and adult learners:

1. Increased language skills for kindergarten children from minority language backgrounds
2. Improved school achievements for pupils from minority language backgrounds in primary and lower secondary education
3. Increased percentage of pupils and apprentices from minority language backgrounds who start and complete upper secondary education and training
4. Increased percentage of students from minority language backgrounds in higher education and improve their chances of completing their education
5. Better Norwegian skills for adults from minority language backgrounds to increase their opportunities for education and active participation in working life and society.                                                

The Plan describes current schemes for people from minority language backgrounds at the various levels of the education system and the legislation that regulates education.

In addition it highlights some research findings that is showing what the situation is like in Norwegian education and training, by focusing on the results achieved by people from language majority and minority backgrounds at the various education levels. 

The Plan contains 38 goal-oriented measures  and they must be seen in connection with the five main objectives of the Strategic Plan. Under each measure there is a description of what the measure comprises, who is responsible and the timeframe for carrying it out. 

The Strategic Plan places great emphasis on better language teaching for children and pupils from minority language backgrounds. Good language teaching is the key to good learning outcomes for participation in further education and for subsequent success in working life. A recurrent theme in the Strategy is therefore that of early language stimulation. Norwegian lessons for children and pupils from minority language backgrounds are also to be strengthened. 

Emphasis is placed on good collaboration between homes and schools, both for kindergarten children and pupils in primary and secondary education.

Pedagogical staff and teachers need to develop further their competence in language teaching for children and pupils from minority language backgrounds.

So the measures are designed both to survey the qualifications of teachers of pupils from minority language backgrounds, and to offer them competence enhancement. It is important to give formal teaching qualifications to more teachers from minority language backgrounds.

One of the measures is a Bachelor programme for bilingual teachers. Another measure is a grant scheme making it financially easier for teachers from minority language backgrounds to take this education.

Emphasis is also placed on work combating racism, discrimination and bullying. The same applies to the significance of disseminating good experiences through conferences, net-based and written examples and through participation in international collaboration. 

Some of the purpose underlying the Plan is to contribute to a comprehensive perspective on the educational and training path, with respect to creating an equal education for all.

Emphasis is placed on involving all levels in the sector. The various stakeholders, comprising kindergarten and school owners, universities and university colleges, County Governors, a number of ministries and their subordinate agencies, all have important roles to play in attending to their responsibility for implementing and following up the measures. The Plan is binding on decision-makers and responsible parties at all levels of the education system.