The government minister in charge of education, Øystein Djupedal, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Tuesday that no new applications for private schools would be evaluated. He said the government will also reverse earlier preliminary approval for new private schools, meaning they won't be allowed to open.
Djupedal's initiative will block the opening of as many as 150 new private schools in Norway. He based the move on the government's desire to prevent educational resources being diverted from public schools, which often seem to be in a perennial budget crisis.
Anders Anundsen of the Progress Party, the biggest opposition party in parliament, said Djupedal was being arrogant by blocking the creation of new private schools that already have been approved under existing laws.
Anundsen challenged Djupedal's authority to block new schools, because it would defy existing law. "First he has to change the law, and laws are changed by the parliament, not by the executive branch," he said.
Ola Lånke of the Christian Democrats also called Djupedal "arrogant," saying the move would set aside human rights as long as a new law is under consideration.
