According to Norwegian Law, students are allowed to miss up to 10 days of school in an academic year. Parents are required to apply for a leave of absence in advance and it is the Principal’s prerogative to approve or reject each application.The principal must reject all applications if the absence is longer than 10 days.
If a child misses more than 10 days, he/she loses his/her place. Parents may reapply. However, if there is a waiting list, the next child on the list is accepted. Should a child’s education be compromised due to absenteeism, the school will contact the child protection agency.
§2-11 of The Education Act (Opplæringsloven) states:
“Leave of absence from compulsory education”
When defensible, the municipality (the Principal) may upon receipt of an application grant individual pupils leave of absence for up to two weeks.
Pupils who belong to a religious community outside the Church of Norway have, upon application, the right to be absent from school on those days their religious community celebrates as holy. This right is conditional upon the parents ensuring necessary tuition during the period of leave, so that the pupil is able to keep pace with the ordinary teaching when the period of leave is at an end.
§ 3-13 of The Private School Act (Privatskoleloven) states:
“When appropriate, the school can grant the student a leave of absence for up to two weeks. Decisions are made based on “Forvaltningsloven” and are given as Single Rights Decisions (enkeltvedtak) according § 2. Complaints must be forwarded to the Department of Education.”
§ 2-1 of the Education Act: Rights and obligations for primary school education states in the fifth paragraph:
“If a pupil is absent without permission from compulsory tuition, his or her parents or those who have the care responsibility for the child may be liable to fines if the absence is a result of deliberate or negligent actions by them. Public prosecution is not instituted unless so decided by the municipality.”
Parents should use the application form below: