SCIENCE EDUCATION IN NORWAY. COUNTDOWN TO THE NEXT REFORM

Integrated science courses in grade 1-11 in the Norwegian school system include biology, chemistry, physics and earth science. The arguments used for integrated science are of scientific, pedagogical and practical nature. Between 1993 and 1997 primary and lower secondary education went through a comprehensive reform process and a new science curriculum was introduced. Until 1997 science in primary schools was not a separate subject, but part of an integrated subject including social studies. The reform of primary education resulted in re-establishment of science as a separate school subject. Another revision of the curricula of all school subjects will take place within a few years. The revision should pay special attention to the problem of overloaded science courses, not allowing for enough time for practical work, and to the need for a more coherent science curriculum for all stages from grade 1 to 13.