New national test results reveal a concerning trend in Norwegian education. Fifth graders show declining reading proficiency while eighth graders demonstrate improvement in mathematics and English. The findings come from Norway's annual standardized assessments measuring core skills.
Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun addressed the results in a government statement. She confirmed the education system faces substantial challenges. The minister emphasized the ongoing effort to strengthen basic skills, particularly reading comprehension. She stressed the importance of quality instruction over simply increasing classroom hours.
Norwegian schools administer national tests annually to fifth, eighth, and ninth graders. These assessments provide municipalities and schools with data about student proficiency in reading, English, and mathematics.
The current results show 29 percent of fifth graders performing at the lowest mastery level in reading. This represents a 6 percentage point increase from 2022. Approximately 3,400 more students now fall into the lowest proficiency category. Meanwhile, the percentage of students achieving the highest reading level dropped from 29 to 25 percent.
Despite reading challenges, performance in English and mathematics remains relatively stable. Eighth graders actually show improvement in both mathematics and English compared to last year. Their reading skills maintain similar levels to previous assessments.
English proficiency shows particular progress among older students. The proportion of eighth graders at the two lowest mastery levels has consistently decreased since 2022. More students now reach the higher proficiency brackets in English.
The government plans significant changes to the national testing system. Multiple evaluations indicate current tests provide insufficient information about student skills. New "learning support tests" will offer broader assessment of student capabilities.
Minister Nordtun explained the rationale behind the changes. She noted that teachers need more than raw numbers. The redesigned tests will clearly identify what students know and where they need improvement. This information will help municipalities make better decisions about educational support.
Education sector stakeholders and teachers will collaborate with the Directorate of Education on developing the new assessments. Current national tests will continue normally during the transition period.
The Norwegian education system last updated its national tests in 2022 to align with new curricula. These revisions included methods for tracking student progress over time. The current results suggest the system still faces challenges in reading instruction despite these improvements.
International readers should understand that Norway's education system typically ranks highly in global comparisons. These test results represent internal measurements against national standards. The findings highlight specific areas needing attention within an otherwise strong educational framework.
The reading proficiency decline among younger students warrants particular concern. Early literacy skills form the foundation for all subsequent learning. Norwegian educators now face the challenge of addressing this slide while maintaining progress in other subject areas.