Norway Removes County Requirement to Set a Written Main Language for Each Upper-Secondary School (Norway, June 2026)
Norway removed the requirement for county authorities to set a written main language for each upper-secondary school. Students’ individual right to choose their written main language remains unchanged.
Norway removed the requirement for county authorities to set a written main language for each upper-secondary school. Students’ individual right to choose their written main language remains unchanged.
What Changed?
The county-level obligation to decide a written main language for each upper-secondary school was removed.
Old System vs New System
County authorities were required to determine a written main language for each upper-secondary school.
From August 2026, the school-level main-language requirement is removed, while students still retain the right to choose their own written main language and must learn both Bokmål and Nynorsk as required by curricula.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Students’ individual language rights are not reduced, but school administration around written main-language designation becomes simpler.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents should not expect a change in students’ right to choose written main language.
School / Institution Impact
Upper-secondary schools and counties may simplify administrative language-designation procedures.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Norwegian-language teachers continue to teach according to curriculum requirements for Bokmål and Nynorsk.
Key Dates
- 2026-06-19: Legal-change overview published
- 2026-08-01: Change enters into force
What To Do
- County authorities should update internal administrative rules and public information where school-level written main language was referenced.
What To Watch Next
Watch for any county-level communication explaining the administrative effect of the change.
Global Context
The change is specific to Norway’s two written-language forms and illustrates how language policy intersects with school governance.
Source Record
Source type: Regulation
Source name: Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research