How to use Skolekassa
Although the selected resources are intended to be as self-explanatory as possible, users will benefit greatly from some guidance. It is therefore a good idea for reception centre staff and teachers of introductory programmes to familiarise themselves with the Skolekassa website and explore the resources it contains.
If you work in a reception centre and wish to help newly arrived children and young people use Skolekassa, make sure you are familiar with the educational resources available on the site. Pupils, their siblings and their parents can work together where possible to research and discuss exercises, solutions and possibilities. If children and young people have the opportunity for reflection and discussion in their native language or another language they know well, they will be encouraged to understand, learn and succeed, and inspired to take on new challenges.
Skolekassa can supplement classroom learning, but personalised teaching remains of prime importance. Pupils who do not speak Norwegian, or who have a poor command of the language, are to receive personalised Norwegian language tuition. Pupils may be eligible for special language education regardless of whether they are attending an introductory programme. It is up to individual education authorities whether they provide special instruction in the form of groups or classes, or as part of the introductory programme offered at certain schools.
Special language education is a collective term for additional Norwegian language tuition, classes in the pupil’s native language and bilingual instruction in one or more subjects. Eligibility for special language education is determined on a case-by-case basis, and pupils remain eligible until they are fluent enough in Norwegian to take part in normal lessons.
For more information about special language education, visit the website of the Directorate for Education and Training. General information about the rules on pupils who speak minority languages can be found here.
Eligibility for special language education is governed by the Education Act, section 2-8 (primary and lower secondary level) and section 3-12 (upper secondary level).
School-age newcomers to Norway are a diverse group. In our efforts to personalise the education provided to each pupil, it may be helpful for pupils to make use of digital learning resources.
Once you, the teacher, are familiar with these digital resources, you can consider how your pupils can make use of them independently and with their parents.
Many of the educational resources contained in Skolekassa include guidance notes for teachers. Here are direct links to some of them (in Norwegian):
– Oppdatert liste inn her- behøver ikke oversettes
NAFO’s page about newcomers aged 6–16 includes advice for teachers, information about organising introductory programmes, and examples from local authorities and individual schools.
Tema morsmål is a website containing educational resources in various languages. Pupils, teachers and parents alike may find it inspiring and useful.
You should also visit the NAFO website to keep up to date with developments in education for multilingual children and young people.