European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

Adults who need primary and lower secondary education have a statutory right to such education. Adults who have not already completed an upper secondary education, also have a right to it. The same curricula apply to adult education as to ordinary pupils in primary and secondary education. The responsibility is divided between municipalities and counties.

Study associations and private distance education institutions are free to develop curricula in their courses (except for secondary school and higher education). There are no statistics available on the international dimension of the almost 45 000 courses being offered each year.

Folk high schools are also free to develop curricula in their short and long (one-year) residential courses. As they are “a school for life” with their founders among Christian organisations and labour unions, international solidarity is a value. Many Folk High schools have a strong intercultural dimension in their curriculum, and they are also open to foreign students.

Partnerships and networks

Skills Norway is the Norwegian Agency for Lifelong Learning and belongs to the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.  They are the current Norwegian National Coordinator for the European Agenda for Adult Learning, and the New Skills Agenda for Europe.

Nordic network for adult learning (NVL)

NVL has been initiated and financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The objectives of the NVL are to promote lifelong learning by focusing on cross-sectoral cooperation in the priority areas defined by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

EBSN

The European Basic Skills Network, EBSN, is an association of policy level stakeholders engaged in basic skills training for adults. The Network currently counts nine Norwegian members.

ELINET

ELINET strives to improve literacy policies in all member countries, reduce the number of children, young people and adults with low literacy skills in Europe, and help increase reading skills and reading for pleasure. Skills Norway is a partner in this network.