For the first time in six years the number of periods in primary school will increase when the next school year starts after the end of the summer holiday.
The Minister of Education will add one period of science lessons per week, but believes they could use many more.
As part of the government’s science initiative, children in the middle levels of school will get one additional science lesson per week (schools can choose whether they want to add it to the 5th, 6th or 7th grade).
– One more lesson per week is a step in the right direction, but far from enough. I think Norwegian schools need a larger number of lessons in both science and mathematics, particularly those in the secondary schools, Education Minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen says.
He can not, however, promise a further expansion next year.
– It is not certain we will manage this, it depends on how tight the state budget is at that point of time. But I wish to expand the number of lessons, Isaksen says.
The cost of just one more science class per week will be at well over 200 million annually going forward, according to the ministry.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
