Education in Bokmål and Nynorsk

All students must receive education in both Bokmål and Nynorsk. However, there are some exceptions to this rule if a student has a different written language than Norwegian.

Do you attend school in a Nynorsk municipality?
From 1st to 7th grade, you will use Nynorsk in your written work at school. However, your parents can choose to have learning materials in Bokmål.

From 8th grade onwards, you can choose whether to use Nynorsk or Bokmål in your written work and have your learning materials in Bokmål.

If there are 10 or more students from 1st to 10th grade who want to use Bokmål as their written language, you can request to receive instruction in Bokmål in a separate group.

Do you attend school in a Bokmål municipality?
From 1st to 7th grade, you will use Bokmål in your written work at school. However, your parents can choose to have learning materials in Nynorsk.

From 8th grade onwards, you can choose whether to use Bokmål or Nynorsk in your written work and have your learning materials in Nynorsk.

If there are 10 or more students from 1st to 10th grade who want to use Nynorsk as their written language, you can request to receive instruction in Nynorsk in a separate group.

Students in primary and lower secondary school.

This is a legally mandated service. See:
Språklova
Opplæringslova § 3-1 og § 2-1.

Opplæringslova
Språklova

The right to choose your main written language and the right to receive instruction in a separate group is a general right that does not require an application. Inform the school principal if you wish to receive learning materials in a different language form than the municipality’s designated primary written language.

The school does not issue individual administrative decisions regarding arrangements for Bokmål/Nynorsk. Therefore, there are no formal appeal options. If you believe your rights regarding language choice are not being fulfilled, you can contact the school administration.