Content
About the statistics
Definitions
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Name and topic
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Name: Completion rates of pupils in upper secondary education
Topic: Education
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Responsible division
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Division for Education and Culture Statistics
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Definitions of the main concepts and variables
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Enrolled pupils: Pupils registered at an educational institution at the 1st October a given year.
Reform 94:
A reform from 1994, giving youth from the age 16 to 19 years old the legalized right to upper secondary education. From 2002, this right was extended to include everyone.The Knowledge Promotion Reform:
Introduced in 2006, this reform continued the legalized right to upper secondary education. It also introduced a new terminology. Area of study was now called education programme as an example.Education programme:
A common description of related subjects in upper secondary education. Upper secondary education exists of three courses: Vg1, Vg2 and Vg3.General fields of study:
Courses are divided into general study programmes and vocational study programmes. General fields of study include courses in Specialization in general studies, Music, dance and drama and Sports and physical education. From 2016, also Media and communication, as well as Arts, design and crafts are included.Pupils at vocational fields of study can also obtain a university and college admissions certificate by completing a vg3 additional courses to obtain such a certificate.
Vocational fields of study: Vocational fields of study include courses in Building and construction, Design, arts and crafts, Electricity and electronics, Healthcare, childhood and youth development, Media and communication, Agriculture, fishing and forestry, Restaurant and food, Service and transport and Technical and industrial production.
In the autumn of 2016, Media and communication a general field of study. Pupils starting Media and communication in the autumn of 2015 or earlier, follow the old programme.
Alternative education program: Pupils in alternative curriculum. Alternative education programmes cannot be specified prior to 2006.
Completed education: A pupil is considered to have completed their education with a university and college admissions certificate or vocational qualification if he/she is registered with passed Vg3/vocational certificate and/or registered with a certificate in the National Results Database. Those taking courses at a higher education institution are also treated as “completed upper secondary education”.
Drop-out: refers to a pupil who dropped out before or within final year.
Normative length of study: Normative length of study is the period to complete upper secondary education within the course requirements for full-time pupils. Normally, this is three years for general programmes and four years for vocational programmes (two years in school and two years of apprenticeship). However, some programmes have two and a half or three years of apprenticeship combined with two years in school. Moreover, some programmes have three years in school and two years of apprenticeship (especially within Electricity and electronics, but also Building and construction). To take into account variations in the normative length, we use normative length as specified in the VIGO code database.
Beyond normative length of study: Completion beyond normative length of study is when a pupil/apprentice uses more time than what is normative (see above), but within the time horizon for the tables published here.
School county: County of school.
Social background: Is based on parent's educational level. The parent with the highest educational level defines the social background of the pupil.
Country of birth, citizenship and country of origin: These variables are classified according to Statistics Norway's' country codes.
Immigrants are persons born abroad of two foreign-born parents and four foreign-born grandparents.
Norwegian-born to immigrant parents are born in Norway of two parents born abroad and in addition have four grandparents born abroad.
Lower secondary school points: Lower secondary school points sum up the pupils’ results in different subjects and form the basis of entrance/intake in upper secondary education. Including school year 2005/2006, the lower secondary school points were calculated by adding up the numerical value of eleven grades of subjects. From 2007 lower secondary school points are calculated by adding up the numerical value of the grades, dividing on the number of grades and multiplying by 10. The exception is when the participant has less than eight grades. In such cases, lower secondary school points are not calculated and are classified as missing.
The total competence achieved by the end of the course is ranged by the type of competence. Trade certificates are prioritized, followed by other vocational qualifications and university and college admissions certifications. Double competence is not included.
Basic competence is competence on a lower level than a full vocational qualification or university and college admissions certification. Basic competence is documented in the form of a training certificate and may be planned or unplanned. The pupil or training candidate receives training that is based around those subjects, or parts of subjects, that she or he is able to master.
Pupils heading for such planned basic competence have to:
- Attend upper secondary education at least 3 years during the five year period
- Successfully complete the individual training programme
Pupils heading for planned basic competence and have decision on special education in all subjects, do not need progression. On the other hand, pupils heading for planned basic competence and having decision on special education just in a few subjects, have to show progression to level 3.
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Standard classifications
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The Norwegian Standard Classification of Education, which was created by Statistics Norway in 1970, groups the educational activity. The standard has been revised; the latest version is from 2000.
Additional information
Statistics follow an intake of pupils through a five-year period in upper secondary education.