Abstract

In Norway, providing equal opportunities is a central thought in education policy. This principle has led to a system where differentiation according to academic ability is effectively prohibited by law, frowned upon by society, and thus virtually non-existent. The ‘Law of Jante’, suggesting that ‘you are not to think you are special or that you are any better than us’, is firmly grounded in Norwegian society. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a relatively strict admission scheme, largely based on grades. But once the students have entered the HEI, no differentiation is made. No honors programs were found at the 18 HEIs studied. Recent developments including a new government, worrying results in the PISA report which compares 15-year-old’s educational achievements internationally, and changing opinions in the other Nordic countries may well lead to a change in this situation in the near future. Programs to identify Centers of Excellence in research and education are already in place. However, so far, these programs focus on identification of excellent institutions and not on excellent students.

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