Danish education system

Dagen før mit oplæg fik jeg at vide, at jeg i stedet for at få en halv time ville få 1 time. Så jeg valgte at inddrage én af vores internationale studerendes weblog og hendes betragtninger / refleksioner over det danske skolesystem. Det tror jeg var en god ide, det satte et ellers tørt stof i relief. Til gengæld viste det sig, at jeg alligevel kun fik godt en halv time.

En anden gang vil jeg krydre et sådant indlæg med langt flere praksis eksempler - jeg tror, det vil lette sammenligneligheden mellem de forskellige lande betydeligt og gøre indlægget knapt så tørt. Noget der især virker fremmed er vores tilrettelæggelse af undervisningen, gruppe- og projektarbejde og kravene til elevernes selvstædige arbejde med stoffet / emnerne.

Herunder mit indlæg:

Hanne Søgaard - Lector and Master in ICT and Learning at University College South, Denmark. ICT means Information and Communications technology and that’s just what I am working with at UC South.
UC South covers Southern Jutland and has about 3,600 students and 420 members of staff.

This is a photo of University College South, Denmark, Haderslev, where the joint administration is located. The department Bachelor of Education is located here too. I am mainly working at this department.
Buble 1 - My office Buble 2 and 3 - the ICT classrooms where the students and I work with multimedia in different ways.

UC South offers international courses and this slides show some of these.
And it’s possible as something new for international students to take a bachelor degree in education. I have some small folders here – if you want some more information.
I am now going to tell you about the whole Danish Educational System (don’t be afraid it will be a short session 20 - 30 min.).

Danish education – key principles
The main function of the Danish education system is:
- To bearer cultural values and key issues such as enlightenment of the people, vision and understanding of society.
- To respond to development and change in society

Education for all
The overall aim is that as many as possible receive a qualifying education. To obtain this goal:
- The education system is comprehensive and coherent, both horizontally and vertically.
- The education system offers flexible avenues of education. Which makes it possible for Danish students to change educational direction.
- Education is free of charge and financed mainly by public means.
Education programmes provide professional, general and personal qualifications and the ability to develop and innovate in order to meet new demands and needs of the labour market.

High-quality education
Danish education aims ensuring that all young people acquire high-quality knowledge and that they become competent citizens.

Active participation
We treat the students as independant people with a right to form their own opinions. However, we expect that they participate actively in discussions.

International outlook
It’s important for the education system to preserve it’s values and principles and keep an international outlook in order to learn from other countries.
More and more institutions at all educational levels are getting involved in international cooperation activities.

Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is a key principle in Denmark formulated by the Danish priest, author and philosopher N.F.S. Grundtvig (19th century).
He states that it’s necessary that society gives the opportunity for lifelong learning so that you can participate actively in a democracy.

Career Guidance
Because we work with lifelong learning all students at all educational levels can get guidance in connection with there education programme as well as to future choices of education, job and career.

The Danish mainstream education system
This slide gives you an idea of the different levels in the Danish mainstream education system.
The system can be divided into three sectors. I will describe each one in detail later.
Bachelor of Education is place here (1) and they are as teachers working here (2).

Compulsory education
Education is compulsory for 10 years, from the age of 6, and includes primary and lower secondary education. It’s provided by public municipal schools and free elementary private schools. The free elementary schools are State-supported self-governing institutions required to measure up to the standards of the municipal schools. School attendance is not compulsory - a few parents choose to teach their children at home. Public municipal schools are free of charge, whereas tuition fees are charged at the free elementary schools.

Additional offers at the basic schools
Some students decide to take an extra year to enhance their qualifications.

Continuation schools
Pupils in forms 8 to 10 can choose to attend a continuation school. Continuation schools are State-supported private boarding schools which put great focus on social learning, sports, music etc. in addition to the normal subjects.

The teaching
Pupils are normally taught in classes and remain together throughout the entire period of basic school. The basic school is based on the principle of differentiated teaching within the framework of the class - in this way the teaching must take its point of departure in the individual pupils’ abilities, desires and needs.

Evaluation
We evaluate the pupils continuously and progression to the next form is usually automatic.

From basic school to youth education
In Denmark education programmes at upper secondary level are called youth education programmes. The term is an umbrella for all upper secondary education programmes as well as vocational education and training (VET) programmes. General and vocational upper secondary education programmes are academically oriented. Vocational education and training programmes prepare students for a career in a specific trade or industry.

Higher education programmes are divided into tree levels and I think there are very similar to other countries education programmes.

Programmes and courses in English
Most higher education institutions offer a wide selection of courses and even whole programmes in English. As a result, a good command of Danish is not in every case a requirement for foreign students wishing to study in Denmark. However, intensive courses in Danish language and culture are available for international students.