ABSTRACT
Summary: The whole educational system in Norway has been revised since the last war. The basic political principles have been to create educational equality and promote democratization.
The period of-compulsory schooling has been increased from seven to nine years, and this gave adult education the task of bringing adults up to date. The secondary school system has been expanded and brings together general and vocational education. It has introduced a pattern of alternation between education and work, and also adapted itself to the education of adults and to the creation of programmes for adults.
Co-determination in industry has initiated expansive training programmes both for representatives and employees; so has the new law on worker protection and the working environment, and the different revisions of the ‘Basic Agreement’ between the Norwegian Employers' Confederation and the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions.
The law on adult education is new and its effects cannot yet be evaluated. It clarifies the duties and responsibilities of adult education. It introduces democratic principles in the organizations carrying out adult education programmes and in the learning process itself. It introduces the principle of positive discrimination with regard to financial support, favouring the educationally disadvantaged groups.
