New national test results reveal a concerning trend in Norwegian education. More fifth-grade students struggle with reading comprehension compared to previous years. The findings come from recently released national assessments that measure core academic skills.
Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun addressed the results directly. She said the findings confirm that substantial work remains ahead. The minister emphasized the ongoing effort to strengthen basic skills, particularly reading. She noted this requires better quality instruction rather than simply adding more classroom hours.
Approximately 29 percent of fifth graders now perform at the lowest proficiency level in reading. This represents a significant 6 percentage point increase from two years ago. The number translates to 3,400 additional students struggling with fundamental reading skills. Meanwhile, the proportion of students achieving the highest reading level dropped from 29 to 25 percent.
National tests in Norway assess fifth, eighth, and ninth graders annually. They provide schools and municipalities with crucial data about student proficiency in reading, English, and mathematics. Despite the reading decline, performance in English and mathematics remains relatively stable, though slightly lower than last year's results.
Eighth graders showed improvement in mathematics and English compared to last year. Their reading skills maintained similar levels. Students demonstrate consistently better performance in English overall. The proportion of students at the two lowest proficiency levels has steadily decreased over recent years.
The Norwegian government plans significant changes to the national testing system. Multiple evaluations revealed the current tests provide insufficient information about student skills. New assessments will offer broader insights into student capabilities and will be renamed "learning support tests."
Minister Nordtun explained the shift in approach. She stated education authorities listened to teacher feedback about needing more than just numbers. The primary goal remains helping students improve. The new tests will clearly identify what students know and where they need additional support. This information will also help municipalities make better decisions about educational improvements.
Education sector representatives and teachers will collaborate with the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training on developing the new assessments. Current national tests will continue normally during the transition period.
Norway's national testing system underwent substantial updates two years ago to reflect new national curricula. The revisions included methods for tracking student progress over time. The latest results suggest these changes haven't yet reversed the reading skill decline among younger students.
The reading proficiency drop raises questions about pandemic recovery efforts and educational priorities. Norwegian schools face the dual challenge of addressing immediate learning gaps while implementing long-term improvements. The test results will likely influence upcoming education policy debates and budget decisions.
International readers should note that Norway typically ranks high in global education comparisons. These results may signal broader challenges affecting even high-performing education systems. The findings could interest education policymakers worldwide monitoring post-pandemic learning recovery patterns.