Glossary
In a bullying case you quickly meet a language you never asked to learn. Here are the most important words explained — so that you can meet the school and the authorities on equal terms.
- Aktivitetsplikten (the duty to act)
- The school's statutory duty to pay attention, intervene, notify, investigate and put measures in place when a child does not have a safe and good school environment (the Education Act (opplæringsloven) § 12-4). The duty is triggered as soon as the school suspects or learns that the child is not safe — for example because you have told them.
- Aktivitetsplan (action plan)
- The written plan the school must draw up when measures are put in place in a school environment case: which measures, when they will be carried out, who is responsible, and when they will be evaluated. Always ask to have the plan in writing.
- School environment case (“9A case”)
- A formal case about your child's right to a safe and good school environment. Many people still say “9A case”, after the chapter in the old Education Act; in the 2024 Act the rules are found in chapter 12.
- Statsforvalteren (the County Governor)
- The state's representative in the county and the authority that enforces school environment cases (previously called Fylkesmannen). If the school does not fulfil the aktivitetsplikt, you can refer the case there one week after the school was notified (§ 12-6).
- Enkeltvedtak (individual administrative decision)
- A formal decision by a public authority concerning one particular person, which carries a right of appeal. The decision made by Statsforvalteren in a school environment case is an enkeltvedtak.
- The stricter duty to report
- Where there is a suspicion that a member of staff at the school is subjecting a child to harm, stricter rules apply: the head teacher must be notified immediately, and the skoleeier must be brought in (§ 12-5).
- Skoleeier (the school owner)
- The body that owns the school and carries overall responsibility for it — the municipality for primary and lower secondary schools, the county authority for upper secondary schools, the board for private schools.
- FAU (the parents' working committee)
- Foreldrerådets arbeidsutvalg — the parents' elected body at the school. A possible ally for raising problems with the environment in a class or a year group.
- PPT (the educational psychology service)
- Pedagogisk-psykologisk tjeneste — the municipality's advisory service for children who need adapted provision. It may become involved in cases where bullying affects learning and schooling.
- BUP (child and adolescent mental health services)
- Barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk poliklinikk — the specialist health service for children's and young people's mental health. Your GP can make a referral if treatment is needed.
- Konfliktrådet (the National Mediation Service)
- A state mediation service that can handle cases which have been reported to the police. Note the difference between a conflict (equal footing) and bullying (an imbalance of power) before you consent to mediation.
- Hospitering (a temporary placement)
- Attending another school temporarily while the case is being resolved — an immediate measure that preserves your child's right to, and place at, the original school.
- Tvangsmulkt (a coercive fine)
- A running fine an authority can impose to force compliance with an order — for example on a skoleeier that does not carry out the measures it has been ordered to take.
- Bekymringsmelding (a report of concern)
- A report to the child welfare service (barnevernet) when there is concern about a child's care situation. In bullying cases where the child is kept at home, absence should be documented with a doctor's note to prevent misunderstandings.