Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Norway, education funding is organised through a tiered system that flows from the national government to local levels. The central government allocates funds to municipalities, which are responsible for running primary and lower secondary schools. County municipalities, on the other hand, manage upper secondary education and distribute resources for that purpose.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The General Grant Scheme, or Inntektssystemet, administered by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, allocates central government funds to municipalities and counties. The scheme aims to ensure equal service provision nationwide by equalising expenditure needs and redistributing tax revenues. Expenditure equalisation compensates for unavoidable differences related to demographics, geography, and social factors, while income equalisation adjusts for variations in local tax bases through redistribution. Most funds are allocated per capita and further distributed according to regional policy criteria, with some discretion allowed for county governors. For primary and lower secondary schools, equalisation is based on the number of children aged 6 to 15, the proportion of non-Scandinavian immigrants within this group, and travel distances. For upper secondary schools, the criteria include the number of students aged 16 to 18, the share enrolled in costly programmes, and travel distances.
2. Education resources to schools
Schools are primarily funded by annual block grants allocated by local municipalities for primary and lower secondary education, and by county authorities for upper secondary education; these local governments own the schools, set budgets covering operating costs and personnel, and disburse funding directly, while national regulations specify minimum standards and special provisions such as free transport, library access, and homework assistance, ensuring consistent support across regions.
The 2025 State Budget allocates funding across schools, practical learning initiatives, and targeted support for Sami education and cultural preservation. Funding for Folk High Schools covers expected price increases and provides special support for Svalbard Folk High School. Sami Schools have a long history, with Sami medium education beginning in 1967. They receive funding to improve provision, strengthen distance learning, and develop teaching materials in collaboration with the Sami Parliament. The Sami Upper Secondary and Reindeer Herding School in Kautokeino is supported to cover rising rent and operational expenses. Practical and active school development for grades 5 to 10 includes support for school environment teams, national centres, science initiatives, equipment, learning arenas, and assessment resources.
Schools are primarily funded by annual block grants allocated by local municipalities for primary and lower secondary education, and by county authorities for upper secondary education; these local governments own the schools, set budgets covering operating costs and personnel, and disburse funding directly, while national regulations specify minimum standards and special provisions such as free transport, library access, and homework assistance, ensuring consistent support across regions.
The 2025 State Budget allocates funding across schools, practical learning initiatives, and targeted support for Sami education and cultural preservation. Funding for Folk High Schools covers expected price increases and provides special support for Svalbard Folk High School. Sami Schools have a long history, with Sami medium education beginning in 1967. They receive funding to improve provision, strengthen distance learning, and develop teaching materials in collaboration with the Sami Parliament. The Sami Upper Secondary and Reindeer Herding School in Kautokeino is supported to cover rising rent and operational expenses. Practical and active school development for grades 5 to 10 includes support for school environment teams, national centres, science initiatives, equipment, learning arenas, and assessment resources.
3. Education resources to students and families
Student Transport
According to the Act on Primary and Secondary Education, primary students are entitled to free transport if they live more than 2 km from school in grade 1 or more than 4 km in grades 2 to 10. Upper secondary students qualify if they live over 6 km from school. All students also have the right to free transport if routes are unsafe, boat transport is required, or due to disability, illness, or injury. These rights cover after-school travel, except during holidays, and apply from multiple homes. The Ministry may allow fulfilment through public transport discounts where available.
State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen)
Upper secondary students under the age of 21 can apply for financial support from the State Educational Loan Fund, Lånekassen, which provides a combination of loans and grants to ensure access to education regardless of financial background. Students required to pay tuition fees may receive a repayable tuition fee loan of up to NOK 33,145 per year. Those attending verified international schools can receive a non-repayable International School Tuition Grant, covering up to 85% of tuition fees, capped at NOK 115,221 per year. Students living away from home are eligible for a repayable living cost loan of up to NOK 3,963 per month. A non-repayable distance-based grant is provided according to the distance between the parents’ home and the place of study, ranging from NOK 290 for 130 km, NOK 2,923 for 350 km, and NOK 5,506 for 700 km. Income-dependent grants are non-repayable and vary according to parental income, with students receiving NOK 3,987 per month if parental income is between 0 and 264,843 kr, NOK 2,658 per month for 264,844 to 333,528 kr, NOK 1,328 per month for 333,529 to 402,213 kr, and no support for incomes above 402,214 kr. A housing grant is available when parents live more than 40 km from school or daily travel time exceeds three hours, with an average of NOK 6,677 per month, most students receiving around NOK 6,184, and the official 2024–25 rate set at NOK 6,871.
Refugees under the age of 21 enrolled in primary, secondary, or upper secondary education in Norway may receive a refugee grant, which converts loans from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, Lånekassen, into non-repayable support. The grant is available for up to three years within six years of being granted asylum, extended to eight years if the student has children. Eligibility depends on when studies begin: starting within three years allows up to three years of support, while starting later reduces the duration. The grant cannot be combined with the introduction programme, and certain types of support, including course materials, travel grants, tuition loans, or child-related loans, are not included.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Universal Child Benefit Programme (Barnetrygd)
The Universal Child Benefit Programme (Barnetrygd) provides all families with children under 18 a non-taxable monthly allowance of NOK 1,968 per child as of 2025. Families in remote areas, such as Finnmark and Svalbard, receive an additional NOK 500 per child. The benefit is unconditional and requires the child to have resided in Norway for at least 12 months, with separate rules applying to EEA citizens and certain foreign residents. Single parents may receive an extended benefit of NOK 2,516 per month, or half that amount, NOK 1,258, if shared with the other parent, with only one extended allowance granted per household.
5. School meal programmes
Norway does not have a universal, state-funded school meal programme, although some pilot projects and local trials exist. The Norwegian Directorate of Health provides advisory, non-mandatory guidelines on school food. The country actively supports school meal initiatives internationally, particularly through the World Food Programme.
This profile has been reviewed by Prof. Alessandra Dieudè and Prof. Colin Peter Green.
