NAFO 20 years
OsloMet's National Centre for Multicultural Education (NAFO) celebrated its 20th anniversary in October.
"Over the past 20 years, multicultural and multilingual perspectives have gained more focus. We clearly notice this when we organize conferences and gatherings, and as NAFO's resources and guidance materials receive an increasing number of hits", says the head of NAFO, Marit Lunde.
The National Centre for Multicultural Education, which is part of the Faculty of Teacher Education and International Studies, has been in operation for 20 years, and marked the anniversary on October 21 and 22 with a large conference with 950 participants
The Centre has also published a journal on the occasion of the 20th anniversary.
Useful for kindergartens and schools
Lunde says it's gratifying to see that NAFO's multilingual resources are used in so many kindergartens and schools across the country.
"We find that being able to speak multiple languages is increasingly seen as something positive in kindergartens, schools and elsewhere in society, and we hope that NAFO has contributed to this development", she says.
"Since the establishment of the centre in 2004, contact with the field of practice has been at the core of our work. This has given us a good insight into the needs in the kindergartens and schools. For example, we are now setting up two new national networks for teachers teaching newly arrived students and bilingual teachers", says Marit Lunde.
She emphasizes that NAFO is constantly being given new tasks.
"Our work will not become less important in a changing world where new groups are constantly coming to Norway", says Lunde.
Watch a film that presents the work of NAFO made for the anniversary conference:.
