The government’s new political agenda has been determined after the long coalition meetings. Work, school, welfare and climate change was chosen as the main issues for the next four years.
The environmental issues and climate change iss put on top of the agenda. The representatives of the new coalition expressed that Norway should be a leader in environmental policy and renewable energy in the near future.
Need for Well Qualified Teachers Emphasized
The emphasis on knowledge and education is another key point in the new policy agenda. The Government’s main priority in schools will be getting more and well qualified teachers. It is also planned to have a limit to the number of students per teacher in schools beside free homework help to decrease the school-drop rates in secondary school.
Active Policy in Industry for Renovation
Another focus for the next period is on providing more money to municipalities so that they can give people good services where they live. At the same time, for securing jobs, an active industrial policy in the country will be adopted. It was stressed that the work of all is an overriding goal. The government will pursue an active industrial policy that allows for innovation, knowledge development and more green jobs. The tax level should be fixed within this space to create a better distribution.
The Foreign Police as Usual
In the new period, the government will continue its foreign policy relying on Norway’s NATO membership, the EEA Agreement and that Norway is not in the EU.
Some Headlines from the New Policy Agenda
- A free hour will be introduced for homework help at schools everyday in addition to more physical activity and possible collaboration with art education.
- Number of hours in primary school will be revised, and the Education Act will be changed to determine the maximum number of pupils per teacher.
- Better efforts to decrease the drop rate in secondary education, and better integration between theory and professional practice.
- A change in transport policy with increased investment in road, railway, aviation and seaway.
- More police recruitment by ensuring continued high recording of police students to get a “more visible” and accessible police.
- Tightening Norway’s climate goals to reduce C20 emissions by 40 percent by 2020
- More investment in renewable energy in addition to introducing a common certificate market with Sweden from 2012 and present a transitional arrangement until that system is active.
- Deciding on the implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment for petroleum activities in the Nordland VI and VII and Troms II in connection with the revision of the management plan in 2010.
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