Norway’s education system requires students to study poetry analysis before learning about interest rates. Finance experts argue this order leaves many adults unprepared for real-world money decisions.
The issue isn’t personal failure, according to economists. It reflects a deeper flaw in how financial literacy is taught. Most people make major financial choices—like taking loans or saving for retirement—before they learn how interest works.
Economist Kari Nygaard from the University of Oslo says the curriculum prioritizes literature over practical skills. She points to a 2022 survey where only 38% of Norwegians could explain compound interest correctly. "We teach them to dissect poems but not to read a bank statement," Nygaard said.
The education ministry defends the system. A spokesperson noted that literature builds critical thinking, which indirectly helps with financial decisions. But critics argue this is like teaching car repair before driving lessons. Students graduate without knowing how mortgages or pensions function.
Parents and teachers are increasingly calling for change. A petition on change.org demands financial literacy classes start in lower secondary school. So far, it has over 12,000 signatures.
Source: e24.no