LIFE - life skills education in Norwegian schools

LSE was introduced in the curriculum in 2020 as one of three cross curricular themes with vague explanations of what it was all about. The Norwegian word "livsmestring" has even broader connotation than the English term and when the concept is vague, this leads to problems for the practitioners who are implementing the curriculum. LIFE wants to achieve a new and improved understanding of life skills education (LSE) in Norwegian schools, against a backdrop of discussion and unclarity regarding the understanding of the concept and ideas about good practice.

LIFE will explore different understandings of LSE through reviews of international literature and will study LSE in practice in Ireland to get a reference point for discussing practice in Norway.

The main part of the study is focusing understandings and practices in Norwegian schools, both through a national survey and by conducting targeted case studies in 15-20 schools on different levels. The results from all these studies will be presented to a group of stakeholders from both practice and policy level, including school owners. They will assist the researchers in discussing both theoretical and practical aspects of LSE in Norwegian schools.

Based on the results of the research project and the reflections and feedback from stakeholders, LIFE will present suggestions both for understanding of what LSE is and how it can be practiced in schools, drawing on a well-founded knowledge basis. The project will even contribute to broader discussions about the relationship between education system and society at large, including questions about what is realistic to achieve through education.