Norway schools fail to protect staff from violence, report finds

A report from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) reveals that nearly nine out of ten inspected schools have deficiencies in preventing violence and threats against staff. Between 2023 and 2025, over 1,000 inspections were conducted across primary, secondary, and after-school care facilities, finding violations of the Working Environment Act in 73 percent of cases.

Key findings include a lack of risk assessments, insufficient training for staff on how to handle threats, and inadequate follow-up procedures. In response, the authority issued 2,139 orders, including coercive fines and sanctions for serious breaches. Statistics Norway indicates that 28 percent of primary school teachers experienced workplace violence in the past year, the highest rate among all occupational groups.

Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng emphasized that employers hold the responsibility for worker safety, while Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun described the findings as a ‘march order’ for municipalities to comply with the law. The government is currently working on a national working environment strategy to address these systemic issues.