TheRoyal Ministry of Education and Research (Norwegian:Kunnskapsdepartementet, KD; full name:Det kongelige kunnskapsdepartement[1]) is aNorwegian government ministry responsible foreducation, research,kindergartens and integration. The ministry was established in 1814 as the Royal Ministry of Church and Education Affairs.
The ministry was established in 1814, following the dissolution ofDenmark–Norway, in which the joint central government administration of the two formally separate but closely integrated kingdoms, had been based inCopenhagen. Originally named the Ministry of Church and Education Affairs, the ministry was the first of six government ministries established in 1814, and was also known as the First Ministry. The other ministries were the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Police, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of War.
Norway was in aunion with Sweden with a common foreign and defense policy until 1905, however church and educational policy was entirely the domain of each respective national government.
The ministry was previously responsible for church affairs, but this function was transferred to theMinistry of Culture in 2002. Kindergartens were transferred to the ministry in 2006.[2]
The full formal name of the ministry isDet kongelige kunnskapsdepartement (literally "the royal ministry of knowledge"),[1] but this name tends to be used only on formal occasions and in formal letters. In everyday speech the ministry is known by the short formKunnskapsdepartementet ("the ministry of knowledge").
Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education, orNasjonalt organ for kvalitet i utdanningen (Official site) conducts quality assurance of higher education institutions and tertiary vocational training, as well as recognition of degrees from foreign countries.
Skills Norway, orKompetanse Norge (Official site) works in areas such as adult education in basic skills, Norwegian language and socio-cultural orientation, vocational training, career advice and matching skills with the needs of the labour market.
National Parents' Committee for Kindergartens, orForeldreutvalget for barnehager (FUB) (Official site) ensures that the voices of parents are heard in debates on kindergarten policy, and it also acts as the Ministry of Education and Research's advisory and consultative body representing parents interests.
National Parents' Committee for Primary and Secondary Education, orForeldreutvalget for grunnskolen (FUG) (Official site) ensures that the voices of parents are heard in debates on education policy, and it also acts as the Ministry of Education and Research's advisory and consultative body representing parents' interests.
