Know your rights

The child's rights under the Education Act (opplæringsloven) — and why you should nonetheless choose your approach strategically.

In the text of the law the child’s rights are well safeguarded, and it lays down consequences for schools, school leaders and school owners that break the law.

The Education Act (opplæringsloven) § 12-3 establishes that the school shall have zero tolerance of violations such as bullying, violence, discrimination and harassment.

Violations committed by school staff are dealt with particularly strictly, with a heightened duty to report them (§ 12-5).

If the bullying does not stop, the family can report the case to Statsforvalteren (the County Governor) (§ 12-6).

If the school does not comply with Statsforvalteren’s order, the school owner can be given a tvangsmulkt (a coercive fine) — as a lump sum or as daily fines that run until the order has been complied with (source: Udir’s circular on the school environment).

The previous legislation also had a separate criminal liability for the school management (fines or imprisonment). Whether this has been carried over into the new Education Act has not been verified as of July 2026 — the point is with FOMIS for legal clarification.

This sounds reassuring, and had the law worked as well in practice as it does on paper, you would hardly be reading this guide, and we would hardly have written it. Unfortunately, the reality for many families is different. Many have to fight for the child’s rights to be met, and consequences for breaches of the law are usually absent. Know your rights, but read on and consider alternative approaches. Think about what will give the best outcome for your child and for the family.

We have some general advice that we ask you to consider straight away; read about these measures.

From the original FOMIS parents' guide (2018). The content is reviewed and updated.