Norwegen / Norway / Norvège
Thor Steinar Grødal
Oslo
I.
Philosophy is now an optional subject of 2 hours per week in Norwegian high schools, and few high schools offer this subject.
Ethics is taught within the compulsory subject Religion; three hours per week in the 3rd and final grade of high school/secondary school.
The teaching of philosophy started in Norwegian high schools probably after 1976.
At high schools philosophy courses are optional (not compulsory) and are done for 2 hours a week. Few high schools in Norway offer their students this subjects, in Oslo only around 3 schools. The age of students 16-19 years in second and 3rd grade.
II.
Curriculum is decided by the teacher, but their is a general guideline for the topic of philosophy. There are written tests, but not written exams.
Teaching materials are chosen from History of philosophy.
Students are participated in choosing texts and videos as media.
Teachers use a mixture of problem-oriented methods.
“Unity of Europe” is no subject of teaching of philosophy.
Norwegian Students have participated in the International Philosophy Olympiad in Warsaw 2005 for the first time.
III.
Philosophy is teached by qualified teachers.
To get the qualification there is necessary the study of teacher and the degree of qualification: 10 semesters; MA + teacher certification. Minimum 1 year of philosophy.
IV.
Starting in 2006 a new reform will take place where philosophy will become part of the curriculum in Elementary School, and in high schools/ Gymnasien philosophy will be integrated with history as an optional “program-subject” with 5 hours a week.
This is in addition to compulsory 2 hours of history in high schools 2nd grade and 4 hours of history in 3rd grade.