The Contracting States,

Having, with the exception of Iceland, previously concluded an Agreement concerning a common labour market,

Considering that the possibility of free exchange of comprehensive school teachers between the Nordic States can promote the development of the school system in those States,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Any person who has completed at least three years of officially recognized class teacher training for comprehensive schools in one Contracting State shall, under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, be recognized as a teacher in any other Contracting State and shall be entitled to work as such.

Any person with officially approved class teacher training qualifying him to teach the first three or four grades in a comprehensive school in one Contracting State may, under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, be entitled to work as a class teacher for the first four grades in a comprehensive school in any other Contracting State. In order to teach at a higher level such teachers shall be required to pass additional examinations.

Article 2

A class teacher from one Contracting State who is employed in a comprehensive school in another Contracting State shall have a command of the language of instruction of the school.

The educational authorities of the Contracting States undertake to arrange for examinations in the language concerned and to ensure that teachers are afforded an opportunity to undergo the necessary preparatory instruction.

A class teacher with a command of one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian or Swedish) may, however, be employed in a school using another Scandinavian language as its language of instruction provided that an examination in that language is passed within two years after the date of appointment, and on the under standing that the teacher shall be exempt during that period from the obligation to teach in that language.

Article 3

For continued employment as a class teacher fully qualified to teach at all levels in Danish comprehensive schools, a class teacher with officially recognized training from another Contracting State shall be required in Denmark also to pass a special professional/pedagogical examination in the course of the first four years as a teacher employed in a Danish comprehensive school.

Article 4

A class teacher recognized in accordance with this Agreement shall in principle be entitled to apply for and obtain a position as a class teacher in another Contracting State even if the applicant is not a national of that State.

Service as a teacher in one Contracting State shall be deemed, in any other Contracting State where such service is continued, to be equivalent to service of the same type in the latter State.

Article 5

A class teacher from one Contracting State who obtains employment in another Contracting State shall in principle be placed on the same footing as a class teacher in the latter State in so far as relates to salary and pension rights and other benefits connected with employment.

Article 6

Upon the signing of this Agreement, each of the Contracting States shall, to the maximum possible extent, amend the domestic regulations currently in force in accordance with the principles set out in articles 1 to 5.

Article 7

The central educational authorities of the Contracting States shall observe the trends in the labour market for teachers in those States and, where special measures are required, shall report on them to the committee established under article 5 of the Agreement of 22 May 1954 concerning a common labour market.

The central educational authorities shall provide each other on a continuing basis with such reports and information as are needed for the purpose of evaluating trends in the labour market for teachers in the Contracting States.

Article 8

This Agreement shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification deposited with the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Agreement shall enter into force three months after all the instruments of ratification of the parties have been deposited.

Any Contracting State may denounce the Agreement by giving six months' notice, and the denunciation shall become effective on 1 July or 1 January following the period of such notice.

Any Contracting State may abrogate the Agreement with immediate effect in respect of one or more of the other Contracting States in the event of war or a threat of war or if other extraordinary national or international circumstances so require. The Governments of the States concerned shall be notified of the decision forthwith.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized for the purpose, have signed this Agreement.

DONE at Helsinki on 3 March 1982, in one copy in the Finnish, Icelandic, Nor wegian, Swedish and Danish languages, all the texts being equally authentic.

Unless otherwise indicated, the translation of this text into English has been made by the Secretariat of the United Nations, See 1372UNTS23099.

Signing of agreement

Date: Mar 03, 1982