Queen Maud’s College for Kindergarten Teacher Education in Trondheim provides training for those working in early years’ education. It is a private college organized as an independent foundation within the Church of Norway.
The school is now celebrating its 75th anniversary and, to mark the occasion, Crown Prince Haakon visited the school that bears the name of his great-grandmother. Queen Maud’s College is the only university in Norway that has the education of kindergarten teachers as its main task.
The Norwegian Crown Prince was welcomed to a varied anniversary programme. The highlight of the event was the performance of the newly composed jubilee song, and both the college’s students and children from the local kindergarten sang and danced for the Crown Prince. Also Ola Borten Moe, Minister for Higher Education and Research attended the event together with the Crown Prince.
The school’s principal gave an informative speech and talked about the school’s history and what the school is working on today. The Crown Prince also heard more about the many student organizations that exist at the college.
His Royal Highness also had the opportunity to speak to some of the 1,500 students who attend the school. A number of kindergarten children had also turned up to see the Crown Prince who took plenty of time to talk to them. Several of the children brought drawings that they were allowed to give the Crown Prince.
The British-born Queen Maud of Norway died in 1938 at the age of 68 years following heart problems. Following Queen Maud’s death in 1938, King Haakon VII collected funds in memory of his late wife and two funds were established. One was Queen Maud’s memorial fund and the other was Queen Maud’s scholarship fund, and in 1954 King Haakon gave Queen Maud’s gift deed to the school. The school was then given a new name in 1956: Queen Maud’s Memorial College.
