Annuling diplomas would weaken trust in schools, argues union

Three education directors have proposed annulling student diplomas, asserting that Norway's assessment system is losing its legitimacy, particularly in the face of artificial intelligence. These serious claims have prompted a strong response from the Education Union, which argues that such a drastic measure would undermine trust in the educational system.

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If the school is to have legitimacy even in the face of new technology, we must build on what works.

The union acknowledges that the assessment system requires ongoing discussion and that AI presents challenges to both teaching and evaluation. However, they reject the idea of increasing digital assessments or replacing traditional exams and individual grades with long-term assignments and interdisciplinary projects. The union believes that preparing students for future studies, work, and society is best achieved through systematic development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

According to the union, exams without aids are more relevant than ever, as they demonstrate what students truly know, rather than their ability to collaborate with AI. They emphasize that learning and assessment are primarily based on the interaction between teacher and student. The union expresses confidence in teachers' ability to assign accurate grades and highlights the importance of external examiners for fairness and consistent assessment practices.

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The Norwegian school is built on trust – in the profession and in professional judgment.

"The Norwegian school is built on trust – in the profession and in professional judgment," the union states. They argue that to maintain the school's legitimacy, especially with new technologies, it is crucial to build upon what works: professional assessment, expertise, human interaction, and trust in teachers. Annulled diplomas, they contend, would weaken this essential trust.

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It shows what students actually know – not how well they interact with a language model.