How to reduce social disparities among children
Today, NHH professor Katrine V. Løken and her expert group are presenting their recommendations to the Minister of Education: How can kindergartens, schools, and after-school programs contribute to reducing social disparities?
Over the past decade in Norway, there has been an increase in the gap in academic performance where social and economic inequality is the cause.
Heading in the wrong direction
`Unfortunately, the trend is heading in the wrong direction. Inequalities are increasing, and parents' background far too often has too much influence on children's outcomes,` said former Minister of Education Tonje Brenna when the committee was appointed last year.
Members
Katrine V. Løken (leader), Astrid Marie Jorde Sandsør, May Britt Drugli, Håkon Leiulfsrud, Manudeep Bhuller, Ingunn Størksen and Fartein Ask Torvik.
More children are growing up in poor families
`Too many children are still dropping out of high school. We must reverse this trend. Much of the solution lies in kindergartens, schools, and after-school programs´.
Professor Katrine V. Løken from the Department of Economics and FAIR at NHH is presenting the expert group's recommendations at a press conference today. Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun will now use the advice from the experts to make the education system more socially equitable than it is today.
The presentation is being streamed here.
Increasing social mobility
The expert group provides advice on how Norway can increase social mobility and help more people complete their education, offering guidance so that more individuals receive a diploma, vocational certificate, or journeyman's certificate after completing their schooling.
The expert group has also assessed state and municipal spending in the education sector.
These are significant questions that require expertise from various fields. Members have examined what research says about the collaboration between kindergartens, schools, after-school programs, and other stakeholders such as parents, the healthcare sector, and municipalities.