Schooling is given high priority nationally as well as internationally and is anchored in the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child stating that every child has the right to education.

Norway offers education to children from nursery to high school (upper secondary school) which means that most children spend about 20 years in pedagogical institutions. Half of this period are ten years in compulsory school and further, all students have the right to go three years at high school. In addition, many students go on to higher education and university.

Wellbeing and mastery at school are strongly associated with the students’ health, and good health contributes to completing high school. By completing high school, the students get the necessary ticket to enter higher education, universities, and the labor market. Thus, schooling has great importance for present and later public health.

Learning and development is an area given priority at NTNU Center for Health Promotion Research Research. Master and PhD students work together with researchers to study factors that contribute to present and later health and wellbeing among children and adolescents. The research includes students in compulsory school and high school. The aim is to include also younger children and to establish more intervention studies.