Geneva (Switzerland), 8th April 2024

In early 2023, the parliament of Norway adopted a new law concerning the approval of new independent schools. It states, „A school will not be granted approval if its establishment would have a negative impact on the government schools on offer […]”. Since the adoption of the law, several applications for the establishment of independent schools and applications for changes in offerings at existing independent schools have been rejected by the Norwegian Directorate for Education. The grounds for rejection are typically complaints from the county or municipality about reduced income and unpredictability related to student enrollment in public schools. These reasons are perplexing, given that they refer to what is a natural consequence of any independent school establishment anywhere.

Rejecting the establishment or modification of independent schools based solely on the above-mentioned factors effectively gives counties and municipalities a de facto veto power over the establishment of independent schools. This new regulation is a step back for Norway in fulfilling the country’s international human rights law obligations, as it interferes with the right of non-governmental actors to establish schools other than those provided by the State.

In response, OIDEL, in collaboration with Kristne Friskolers Forbund and seven other NGOs (WAE, ECSWE, OIEC, ECNAIS, NORME, Steinerskole Fordbudet, Montessori Norge), submitted a report to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Norway. The report explains the human rights problems posed by the new law makes recommendations as to how Norway can improve its realization of the right to education. To the submission: https://www.oidel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/UPR-Norway-Written-Submission_FINAL.pdf

The next step in the UPR of Norway is the pre-sessions in August 2024. For more information: https://upr.info/en/review/norway