Norwegian government to change admission requirements for teacher education

From the spring, the government plans to change the admission requirements for teacher education so that there will be two admission requirements for the education. The goal is to get more qualified applicants.

To enter the teacher education program this spring, applicants must have at least 40 school credits and a grade of 3 in math, as the government decided this autumn, or at least 30 school credits and a grade of 4 in math, the government noted in a press release.

“With this change, the admission requirements are broader and give more qualified applicants. We will still make high demands on our future teachers, but without excluding applicants who have high grades, and have strength in subjects other than mathematics,” Minister of Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe (SP) said.

The requirement for grade 4 in math to enter teacher education was introduced by the Solberg government in 2016 and scrapped by the new government in the Hurdal platform.

Deputy leader of the Conservative Party, Jan Tore Sanner, believes the government’s new admission requirements are unambitious.

“More teachers are now better prepared and equipped for teacher training, fewer drop out from the first year, and more complete it on time. In other words, we get both teachers who are stronger in mathematics, and more teachers in Norwegian classrooms, which is actually the most important thing for the students. There won’t be better teaching by lowering the requirements and ambitions for teachers’ competence,” Sanner said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayEducation

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