Interpreters in kindergarten and school ensure that parents and staff understand each other. The Interpreter Act from 2022 obliges public services to use qualified interpreters when needed. Children must not interpret for adults. Interpreters are free for you and bound by confidentiality.
Do you have the right to an interpreter in kindergarten and school?
Yes, in practice you do when language prevents good understanding. Public services have a duty to use an interpreter when it is necessary for legal protection or proper assistance. This also applies to kindergarten and school.
Kindergarten and school rely on good cooperation with the home. Parents need to understand information about the child's well-being, learning, health, absence and rights. Staff also need to understand what parents say.
When language becomes a barrier, a small misunderstanding can have major consequences. A good parent meeting and cooperation with the school becomes difficult if you do not understand what is being said.
What does the Interpreter Act from 2022 say?
The Interpreter Act came into force on 1 January 2022. The Act states that public bodies must use an interpreter when required by law, or when an interpreter is necessary for legal protection or to provide proper assistance and services.
The Act applies to many services, not just school. It covers, among other things, health, NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration), kindergarten and school. The Directorate for Education (Udir) explains the rules specifically for kindergarten and school.
The Act also sets requirements for qualified interpreters. Until 31 December 2026, a transition period applies. From 1 January 2027, public bodies must as a main rule use interpreters listed in the National Interpreter Register.
What is a qualified interpreter?
A qualified interpreter is not just someone who speaks two languages. The interpreter must interpret accurately, be impartial and be bound by confidentiality. This means the interpreter is not allowed to tell anyone else what was said at the meeting.
The National Interpreter Register, run by IMDi (Directorate for Integration and Diversity), lists interpreters who meet public requirements. A good interpreter translates what is said. The interpreter must not give their own advice or take sides.
You usually do not need to find or pay for the interpreter yourself. When the meeting is at a public kindergarten, school or municipal service, it is the service that orders the interpreter. The interpreter is then free for you.
When should kindergarten and school use an interpreter?
An interpreter is especially important when the conversation may affect the child's rights or the family's everyday life. The need must be assessed in each individual conversation, not just based on whether parents speak some Norwegian.
Typical situations where an interpreter should be used:
- Initial meeting in kindergarten and development meeting in school
- Parent meeting and important parent meetings
- Meeting about special language training or special education
- Meeting with PPT (Educational-Psychological Service)
- Concerns about absence, well-being or bullying
- Consent to share information about the child
Not everything requires an interpreter. A brief message about a trip day can be given in writing, with pictures or in several languages. But if you are to make a decision or understand consequences, the service should consider an interpreter.
Why must children not interpret for adults?
Children must not be used as interpreters for adults. The Interpreter Act § 4 says that public bodies must not use children for interpreting. Exceptions apply only in emergency situations, or when it is otherwise proper considering the child's interests.
The reason is simple. A meeting may deal with finances, health, conflict or difficult choices. This is heavy responsibility for a child. The child may also have to hear private information it should not carry.
Family, friends or older siblings may seem practical, but they are not neutral. They may leave out information or explain in their own words. Udir is clear: siblings, spouses, relatives, neighbours or colleagues must not be used as interpreters. That children have their own rights and self-determination, is an important part of this.
On-site interpreter, video interpreter or telephone interpreter?
Interpreting can happen in three ways. The service often chooses based on what the case requires and what is practical.
| Type | How | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| On-site interpreter | The interpreter is physically present in the room | Serious, sensitive or lengthy meetings |
| Video interpreter | The interpreter participates via video | Most meetings, quick access to the right language |
| Telephone interpreter | The interpreter is on the phone | Short conversations and urgent matters |
On-site interpreters are often best in difficult conversations, because it is easier to perceive tone of voice and body language. Video interpreters and telephone interpreters make it faster to find an interpreter in your native language, even in smaller languages.
How to request an interpreter
You can request an interpreter yourself. Say clearly and well in advance of the meeting.
- Ask for an interpreter as early as possible, preferably when the meeting is arranged
- State your language and any dialect, so you get the right interpreter in your native language
- Say if the interpreter knows the family privately, so you can get a different interpreter
- Speak directly to the teacher or kindergarten in the meeting, not to the interpreter
- Stop the meeting if you do not understand, and ask for a new explanation
- Ask for a brief summary at the end: What was decided? Who does what? What deadline applies?
The right to understand applies in many places in everyday life. You can also ask for an interpreter in the healthcare system in Norway and at NAV, not just at school.
What should you remember for the exam?
For the civic knowledge exam, the main point is simple. Public services must communicate responsibly with citizens. Interpreters are used when language prevents legal protection or proper assistance.
The interpreter is bound by confidentiality and must be impartial. Children must not interpret for adults. You can ask for an interpreter, but the public body has responsibility for assessing the need and ordering the right help.
This is part of the curriculum for the civic knowledge exam — practise free on SamfunnPrep. If you want to get started quickly with your rights, SamfunnPrep's guide to the first week can help you further.
