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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Denmark

Denmark

6. Education and Training

Last update: 28 November 2023
This chapter describes Danish youth policies in the field of education and training.

 

The Danish education system covers everything from primary school to higher education and adult education and training. The Danish education system aims to ensure that all people acquire knowledge and competencies that qualify them to take an active part in society and contribute to its further development. Education is open to all and generally free of charge.

The education system is financed by the state and the municipalities.

National legislation covers the aims and framework of education, funding and, in some cases, curricula, examinations and staffing.

The responsibility of the education system is shared between four ministries:

The Ministry of Children and Education is responsible for primary and lower secondary education (folkeskole) and general and vocational upper secondary education programmes. In general, municipalities have a high degree of autonomy, and in the case of education, the management of the primary and lower secondary education is a municipal responsibility.

The Ministry for Higher Education and Science is responsible for higher education programmes. Some of the higher education programmes within the arts fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture, e.g., the schools of visual arts and the academies of music. Specialised education programmes within the Danish Defence are managed by the Ministry of Defence.