The Norwegian Education Mirror 2022

Apprentices require a good working and learning environment, so that they can learn and reach the goals in their curriculum. Training establishments must meet apprentices with trust and respect, and demand and give challenges that promote education and a desire to learn.

Most apprentices enjoy themselves and are highly motivated

The apprentice survey from 2021 shows that most apprentices enjoy themselves and are motivated to learn. 85 per cent state that they enjoy themselves to a great or somewhat great extent in their workplace, and 89 per cent say that they get along with their colleagues (The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training 2022b).

The survey also shows that 92 per cent of apprentices are motivated to learn in their workplace; 64 per cent to a great extent and 28 per cent to a somewhat great extent. Motivation has been high and stable for the past few years.

The apprentice survey from 2018 showed that apprentices who experience good guidance and support in their work, and experience taking part in their own training, enjoy themselves to a greater extent than apprentices who do not experience this. Apprentices who feel involved in planning and assessing their own work, and who receive feedback on their work, feel better prepared for their apprenticeship examination (Utvær and Wendelborg 2020).

Many companies and businesses have faced challenges as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, and this was mirrored in the proportion of applicants who received apprenticeship contracts in 2020. In 2021, however, the number of apprenticeship contracts and professional and craft certificates increased again, to a higher level than before the pandemic (The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training 2022c). The apprentice survey also shows that apprentices enjoy themselves, and enjoyment and motivation have not gone down despite the pandemic.

Slight decline in workplace bullying

3.6 per cent of apprentices report being bullied in the workplace two or three times a month, or more frequently. Half of these experience bullying two or three times a month, while the other half report being bullied one or more times a week. The tendency over the last three years is that there has been a slight decline in the proportion of apprentices who have been bullied (The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training 2022b).

Of those apprentices who report being bullied, 64 per cent say that they have been bullied by other colleagues, while 23 per cent say that they have been bullied by management. 60 per cent say that they have told someone in the company. Only 34 per cent say that something has been done to stop the bullying. Oslo has the largest number of apprentices who have been bullied in the workplace, while Vestfold og Telemark has the lowest number.

The number of apprentices who have been bullied varies quite a lot between the different education programmes. Apprentices are most bullied in Restaurant and Food Processing, while fewest apprentices are bullied in Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology (The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training 2022b). In comparison, most pupils in Level Vg1 who report bullying are in Sales, Service and Tourism, and Building and Construction (The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training 2022d).

Girls who make non-traditional education choices experience greater challenges than others

Apprentices who have made non-traditional education choices, i.e. girls taking male-dominated subjects, and buys taking female-dominated subjects, are generally quite satisfied with the choice they have made (Buland et al. 2022). Nevertheless, there are some clear gender differences in how apprentices who have made non-traditional educational choices experience their situation in school and apprenticeships. 5.8 per cent of girls and 1.4 per cent of boys who have chosen non-traditional apprenticeships experience being bullied in their workplace at least two-three times per month. Among pupils who have taken non-traditional educational choices, on the other hand, the proportion who experience bullying is more equal for girls and boys; 4.9 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively.

The gender difference is even greater when it comes to unwanted sexual attention. 28 per cent of girls who have taken non-traditional apprenticeships say that they have received unwanted sexual attention, while only 4 per cent of boys say the same.

In in-depth interviews, several apprentices express that a working environment with a balanced relationship between girls and boys is perceived positively and helps to reduce bullying and conflicts. Access to networks with other apprentices who have made similar choices increases security and well-being (Buland et al. 2022).