Exemption from Certain Activities Due to Beliefs
Students have the right to be exempt from activities in education that they perceive as practicing another religion or belief system. Parents or students over the age of 15 must notify the school in writing to request an exemption, but they do not need to provide a reason.
Description
Certain school activities may be perceived as religious or cultural practices, or parts of the curriculum may feel offensive or inappropriate. In such cases, parents or students over 15 years old can request an exemption.
Requesting an exemption does not require an application process; it is sufficient to inform the school that the student wishes to be exempted. The learning objectives of the subject remain unchanged, meaning that the student will need to complete alternative activities to ensure the same amount of instruction as other students.
In general, it should not be necessary to request an exemption from regular religious and ethical education (KRLE), as it does not include religious practices or preaching of any faith.
Target group
Students in primary and lower secondary school.
Criteria/conditions
The right to an exemption is based on how the student or parents perceive the activity, but there should be a reasonable shared understanding that the activity may conflict with certain beliefs. An example of this is the requirement to eat pork.
Brochures, documents, maps, etc.
Acts
This is a legally mandated service. See in particular:
Opplæringslova § 14-6 og § 24-5.
Guidelines – applying for, or receiving the service
Until the age of 15, parents must send a written notification to the school requesting the exemption. The notification should state which subjects or activities the student is to be exempt from, but no reason is required.
Students who are 15 years or older can submit the notification themselves.
Tjenesten oppdatert: 17.02.2025 14:43