The Norwegian Education Mirror 2022

In total, 27,300 teachers worked in upper secondary school in 2021 (Statistics Norway 2022a). The proportion of female teachers is 56 per cent for all age groups taken together, but among the oldest teachers, there is a male majority.

Most teachers have a teaching qualification

86 per cent of teachers in upper secondary schools in 2021 have higher education with pedagogy (Statistics Norway 2022b). 77 per cent of teachers have teacher education, while 9 per cent have a university or college degree which includes pedagogy, but which is not a teaching qualification. Just 5 per cent of teachers in upper secondary school education do not have education at a university or college level.

Teachers' education background varies with age, and the level of education is higher among the youngest teachers than amongst older teachers (Statistics Norway 2022b). For example, the proportion of teachers with university or college education at a higher level is 35 per cent and 29 per cent respectively in the two oldest age groups (50–59 years and 60 years and older), while the corresponding proportion is 49 per cent and 55 per cent in the two youngest (29 years and younger and 30–39 years). This is probably connected to the fact that the educational requirements for becoming a teacher have changed over the years. At the same time, the proportion of teachers who lack pedagogical training is significantly higher among the youngest age group than the older ones. This can for example be because the youngest are not finished with their education.