I wrote this two weeks ago: Tor Forde wrote: > > I have earler been writing about the work to make it a right for > everyone in Norway to be able to go on and get additional education > whenever anybody wants to do it. > I have in earlier postings mentioned that the largest Confederation of > Tradeunions (LO) and the largest industrial organisation (NHO) have > agreed upon such an arrangement. > > But there were still two problems to solve: > One was that when the funding was in place, and everybody was able to > take a leave for education with pay, firms that were not members of NHO > would profit as much as NHO members from a better qualified population, > but since they had not signed the agreement they did not have to pay the > costs. > But now this is solved, because today the Parliament of Norway has > decided that everybody in Norway, at any age, has the right to go on to > further education and return to their old position if the education does > not last longer than three years. And this is going to be with some pay. > Well, the funding is not there at this moment. > But so many persons have put in so much prestige that it is going to > come. Now I have been reading the text that was voted, and what happened was two things: Another piece in the puzzle to make real a lifelong education system was put in place. Today more than 90% of norwegians get at least 12 years of education and can without too much trouble qualify for university education. But that was not the case 30-40 years ago, when lots of people left the educational system after primary school. Many of them have during life learnt a lot without getting documents and exams. They too should be able to go to university if they would like to when the new system is in place without too much trouble, without spending many years getting exams if they have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to enter university. And the new piece was a law about measuring qualifications needed to enter university studies which makes it a lot easier for persons who left the educational system after primary school if they during life have acquired the qualifications. Another thing that happened was that political parties representing a majority of the voters said that they are eager to get the whole system in place, and I guess this was the reason that media, both TV and radio etc told that now it is in place. Tor Forde
