The Ministry of Education and Research has had its attention on how the completion of upper secondary education can be increased. The completion rate is lowest in the vocational education programmes. A probable reason for the lack of completion of upper secondary education is that the pupils do not pass one or several of the joint subjects. The joint subjects in vocational programmes are Norwegian, maths, science, English, foreign language, social studies, geography and gym (1).
The joint subjects have identical curricula for all the educational programmes, also for the vocational programmes. The joint subjects shall however be adapted to the different educational programmes, cf. the regulations to the Learning Act §1-3 second section. This means that the subjects shall be vocationally orientated and made relevant for each pupil.
A number of initiatives have been implemented in order to ensure that the joint subjects are adapted to the different educational programmes. The project FYR (joint subjects, vocational adjusting, relevance) was started autumn 2011 and it shall ensure that pupils in the vocational education programmes receive learning in the joint subjects Norwegian, maths, English and science that is experienced as relevant for their everyday life and is vocationally adjusted towards a future working life. Amongst other things competence development for the joint subjects will be carried out through the project and learning resources will be developed. The project FYR is a part of the project NY GIVE (completion of upper secondary education) that was started in spring 2011. (2).
The Ministry of Education and Research would like to get more knowledge of how the teaching in the joint subjects Norwegian, maths, English and science in vocational education programmes can best contribute to pupils experiencing increased motivation and learning outcome and thereby increasing the probability that the pupils complete upper secondary education.
(1) Circular letter Udir 01-2012: The Knowledge Lift - on subjects and hour distribution basic learning and the offer structure in sixth form learning.
(2) Further information on all of the NY GIV project can be found at www.regjeringen.no
Section V: Award of contract
Lot title: 13/2137 Research project-vocational adjustment/ relevance in joint subjects in 6th form education
V.1) Date of contract award decision:
28.6.2013
V.2) Information about offers
Number of offers received: 4
V.3) Name and address of economic operator in favour of whom the contract award decision has been taken
Trøndelag Forskning og Utvikling, postboks 2501, 7729 Steinkjer, NORWAY