Folk high schools (discontinued), 2002

During 2002 there were 20 727 participants who attended short courses at folk high schools. 52 per cent of all women and 51 per cent of all men were in the age group 50 years or above. Similar to previous years, women were in majority, accounting for 61 per cent of all participants, and women were in majority in all age groups. The difference in gender distribution was most marked in the age group 40-49 years, where 66 per cent of the participants were female. While a majority of women aged 50 years and above preferred aesthetic and crafts subjects, the greater part of men in the same age group chose social science subjects.

In total, counting both residents and non-residents, there were 1 600 foreign citizens, accounting for 8 per cent of all participants. Women were also in majority among foreign citizens with 61 per cent.

13 per cent increase in number of participants

For the second year in a row, the number of participants who attended short courses at folk high schools continued to increase in 2002. Compared with the previous year, there were 9 per cent more participants in 2002. If we convert participants into fulltime equivalents, there were 13 per cent more fulltime equivalents in 2002 than in 2001.

One out of four from Denmark

Participants from 88 different nations attended short courses at Norwegian folk high schools during 2002. Most of them, 43 per cent, were from Scandinavian countries other than Norway. Danish, Germans and Russians were the largest groups of foreign citizens who attended short courses at Norwegian folk high schools during 2002. There were 427 citizens from Denmark, 275 from Germany and 246 from Russia.

While most participants from Norway chose aesthetic and crafts subject and humanities, philosophy and ethics subject, the majority of foreign citizens chose social sciences (30 per cent), and health, social and sports subjects (26 per cent).

Tables:

• Table 1 Participants at folk high schools, short courses, by sex and age. 2002
• Table 2 Participants at folk high schools, short courses, by county of origin, sex and age. 2002
• Table 3 Foreign participants at folk high schools, short courses, by citizenship and sex. 2002
• Table 4 Participants at folk high schools, short courses, by subject, sex and age. 2002
• Table 5 Participants at folk high school, short courses, by county of school and subjekt. 2002
• Table 6 Number of fulltime equivalents at folk high schools, short courses, by sex and age. 2002
• Table 7 Participants at folk high schools, short courses, by county of school and sex. 2002
• Table 8 Fulltime equivalents at folk high schools, short courses, by sex and subject. 2002