Excitement builds as nearly 60,000 first graders begin school in Norway

“I’m mostly excited, but a little bit nervous too,” says teacher Synøve Gjerde, looking at first grader Jenny Linnea Borge Midtskogen (6), who is drawing with markers in a new notebook.

“Are you nervous too?” Jenny replies, puzzled, before declaring loudly: “I’m really, really excited!”

Over the past five years, Norway has seen a decrease of 2,000 first graders, but today, nearly 60,000 six-year-olds begin school.

At Steinberg School in Drammen, Jenny Linnea Borge Midtskogen, Alina Myrberg Løken, Dennis Boye-Hansen, and Mia Hansen Hole will attend the only first-grade class, composed of 22 students. They have already heard about what they will learn in the coming years: Jenny is most excited about learning English, while Dennis knows he needs to learn math. Alina plans to grasp addition, subtraction, and English, while the children express a desire to integrate play into learning.

Teacher Synøve Gjerde is well-prepared to welcome this new class, having been a teacher for 23 years, with 12 of those in first grade. She is pleased that play has returned as a key element in teaching.

“The curriculum emphasizes the importance of play in education, and many teachers now feel more confident in incorporating it,” Gjerde explains. “Children need to play; it’s how they learn.”

Concerns from parents about a reliance on tablets in lessons are noted, but Synøve reassures that there will be a balance of traditional books and digital devices: “We will start using iPads eventually, but they will not replace books entirely.”

The transition for these young students is significant, filled with excitement and a mix of challenges, as they embark on their educational journey in Norway.