The work of the Ministry is aimed at ensuring that Norway has a sound and well functioning educational system, and productive and creative research environments.

The Ministry seeks to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate and influence development in the knowledge society. An important condition for achieving this goal is the existence of a knowledge sector that is able to develop, communicate and exploit new knowledge.

The Ministry has six departments: Department of Education and Training, Department of Higher Education, Department of Learning and Workforce Development, Department of Research, Department for Policy Analysis and International Affairs and Department of Administrative Affairs.

It is important to notice that the larger part of the public funds for primary and secondary education are channelled through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development as part of the revenue system for the municipalities a county administrations. The municipal authorities are responsible for primary education whilst the county authorities are responsible for secondary education.