This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of national reforms and policy developments since 2023. The web pages that follow group reforms in the following broad thematic areas: 

• Early childhood education and care 

• General school education 

• Vocational education and training 

• Higher education 

• Adult education and training. 

Inside each thematic area, reforms are organised chronologically. The most recent reforms are described first.

The Government’s political platform Plan for Norway 2025–2029  (‘Plan for Norge’) sets out a coherent, lifelong approach to education policy aimed at strengthening democracy, welfare, competitiveness and social cohesion. The strategy covers children, young people and adults, and spans primary, secondary, vocational and higher education, with a strong focus on relevance to working life and inclusion.

The Government consistently prioritises:
• Equity and equal access, ensuring that all individuals can participate in education regardless of background or geography.
• Stronger alignment between education and labour‑market needs, with particular emphasis on vocational and higher vocational pathways.
• Research‑informed policy development, grounded in long‑term planning, quality enhancement and evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Societal and workforce resilience, recognising the technological, demographic and global challenges shaping Norway’s future skills needs.

The Government views schooling as fundamental to equity, social mobility and democratic participation. Key priorities in primary and secondary education include:
• Strengthening early‑years provision, including new regulations to reduce screen time for pupils in years 1 and 2 and to improve the structure of early learning.
• Developing national content lists to clarify curricular expectations and ensure more consistent practice across the country.
• Implementing the new Education Act (2024–2025), which introduces updated rules on physical intervention and a revised system for managing student absence in upper secondary education, promoting fairness and reducing pressure on health services.

Adult learning remains central to Norway’s strategy for inclusion and labour‑market preparedness:
• The Ministry of Education and Research prioritises adult learning and competence development, emphasising equitable access, tailored learning pathways and improved completion rates.
• The Government has introduced debt‑relief incentives for residents in the least central municipalities to strengthen recruitment and participation in education.
• The expansion of sector‑specific training schemes (‘bransjeprogram’) and targeted adult‑skills programmes supports economic restructuring and emerging labour‑market demands.

In higher education, the Government promotes a pedagogical strategy characterised by digital competence, responsible use of artificial intelligence, inclusive teaching practices and evidence‑informed quality enhancement. Institutions are expected to modernise teaching, professionalise pedagogical practice and ensure accessible, high‑quality learning environments aligned with societal needs.

The Government also emphasises:
• Capacity planning and relevance, commissioning analyses of programme dimensioning and future skills needs.
• Significant investment in quality development within higher vocational education, including digitalisation, new programmes and the establishment of two national pilot centres for excellence.
• Continued prioritisation of internationalisation and modernisation, supported through Erasmus+ partnerships that foster digital and green transitions, innovation and cross‑sector collaboration.