Norway to Ease Distance Learning Rules for Vocational Education

The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research has proposed changes to the Education Act (Opplæringslova) and the Education Regulations (Forskrift til opplæringslova) to make upper secondary vocational education more accessible, especially for young people in sparsely populated and remote parts of the country. The goal is to allow more students to complete upper secondary education without having to move away from their home communities.

To understand these proposed changes, it's crucial to grasp the structure of the Norwegian education system. In Norway, the education system consists of compulsory schooling (Grunnskolen) for ages 6–16, followed by upper secondary education (videregående opplæring), which is not mandatory but is a legal right for all who complete compulsory school. Upper secondary has two main tracks: general studies, lasting three years and leading to university admission, and vocational programmes, which normally involve two years of school-based theory followed by two years of in-service training as an apprentice in a company.

Under current legislation, Section 14-4 of the Education Act and related provisions in the Education Regulations restrict how much of upper secondary education can be delivered remotely. Distance learning is currently allowed only if there are “good reasons” and if it is safe and pedagogically justifiable, with students normally required to receive remote lessons while physically at school. Learning from other locations is permitted only in special cases, and in all cases, authorities must certify that the conditions are met.

The proposed reform would relax these restrictions for vocational education in areas with low population density and long distances, enabling students to complete the first two years of theory via distance learning while staying in their home municipalities, followed by local company apprenticeships for their final two years. The model is inspired by the successful “Local Training in Collaboration with Work” (LOSA) pilot in Finnmark, which has combined remote teaching, local practical training, and periodic in-person sessions, significantly boosting completion rates.

“This offer is important,” said Minister of Education and Science Kari Nessa Nordtun. “Students can stay in their home municipality and start upper secondary education they are motivated for, instead of having to move to a dormitory. For some, the alternative will be not to apply for upper secondary education at all.”

The proposal also includes amendments to Section 4-9 of the Education Regulations to expand late-admission rights for two vulnerable groups: students moving in or out of child welfare placements under the Child Welfare Act, and individuals returning to Norway after an involuntary stay abroad.

The public consultation will run until 7 November 2025, with feedback invited via the government’s portal at regjeringen.no. All submissions will be made public.