NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN DENMARKPattern of AdministrationPolicies and ObjectivesDanish Educational SystemPre-School, Primary and Secondary EducationGrading SystemCurriculum

Discussant: Andrea Claire C. Malonzo`1PATTERN OF ADMINISTRATION2Ministry of EducationIt is responsible for primary and secondary education, vocational programmes, professional bachelor programmes and AK programmes and also determines in general terms the education frameworks, curricula and exit qualifications.

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3Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher EducationThe Ministry handles tasks related to policies, administration, operation, coordination and interaction, etc. in and between these areas. The Ministry consists of:The DepartmentThe Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation The Danish Agency for Higher Education IT Department of the Ministry of Higher Educationand Science4

5PRINCIPLES, POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES6Folkeskole Act (1994) Any child resident in Denmark is subject to 10 years of compulsory education from the age of 6 to 16. Education is compulsory in Denmark for everyone between the ages of 6-7 and 16. Part 1 - The Aims of the Folkeskole(1)The Folkeskole shall - in cooperation with the parents - further the pupils' acquisition of knowledge, skills, working methods and ways of expressing themselves and thus contribute to the all-round personal development of the individual pupil.Part 2 - The Structure and Content of the FolkeskoleThe Folkeskole shall comprise a one-year pre-school class, a nine-year basic (primary and lower secondary) school and a one-year 10th form.(2)Special education and other special educational assistance shall be given to children whose development requires special consideration or support.

N.F.S. Grundtvig VIDEOIn 1814, Denmark got its first School Act introducing compulsory education for all. Since 1953, the Constitution has established that school education should be free.

The philosophy of the Danish school is based on ideas and philosophy from both N.F.S. Grundtvig, who was a Danish writer, theologian and philosopher, and from a teacher named Christen Kold (OECD, 2004, Ministry of Education: Private Schools in Denmark1).

With ideas such as General Public Education and a school for life, Grundtvig and Kold inspired the development of the Danish school system. Therefore, it is highlighted in the current Folkeskole Act ( 1) that the primary and lower secondary school should provide students with the knowledge and skills that prepare them for further education.

7Education for AllProvision of high quality education at all levels is essential to ensure competitiveness in today's global society. Thus, Danish education aims to ensure that all young people acquire knowledge and competencies which will qualify them to take active part in the knowledge society and contribute to its further development. Education is open to all and generally free of charge.

Lifelong LearningLifelong learning is a key principle in Denmark. The idea dates all the way back to the 19th century Danish clergyman and philosopher N.F.S. Grundtvig, who argued that a prerequisite for active participation in a democratic society is education for all citizens on a lifelong basis.8Mission and VisionThe Ministry aims to create knowledge, growth and welfare in Denmark as it takes its place in an increasingly globalized world. We are doing so by ensuringthat students, researchers and teachers, as well as businesses and public institutions haveincreasingly better conditions for carrying out research, study and innovation.

The Ministry's vision is to create the best possible conditions for research, study and innovation in Europe.9That is why we are working towards:Better quality and better cohesion in higher educationIncreasedquality and relevance in researchGrowinguse and dissemination of knowledge and technologyImproved internationalization of higher education, research and innovationIncreased innovation in businesses, public institutions and higher educationEffective administration of education support and grants.

10DANISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

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12ClassThe Folkeskole is an undivided (comprehensive) school, where the formation of classes takes its point of departure in the age of the student - and not in his or her subject-specific proficiency.The students are divided into classes with an average of approximately 20 students per class. The number of students in a class must not exceed 28.The Danish Folkeskole is not an examination-oriented school. 13National TestingAs a part of the process of evaluating the students learning outcomes, a range of obligatory national tests have been introduced.Students must complete the following tests:Danish, with a focus on reading in form levels 2, 4, 6 and 8.English in form level 7.Mathematics in form level 3 and 6.Geography in form level 8.Biology in form level 8.Physics/chemistry in form level 8.

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The pre-school class programme of teaching is intended to lay the foundation for the schools educational programme as a whole and create cohesiveness in the transition between a childs daily life at home or in a day-care centre and the pre-school class and the following form levels.

Pre-School Class (0th Form / 6 yrs. old)NOTE:To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture iconin the placeholder to insert your own image.The Folkeskole must comprise a one-year pre-school class.At the request of its parents, a child must be admitted to a pre-school class in the calendar year of his or her sixth birthday or - under certain circumstances - one year before or after the sixth birthday.15

Denmark has signed the Salamanca Declaration, which calls on governments to facilitate Inclusive Education. This is reflected in the way special needs education is organized. Students with special needs are in principle met with the same expectations as any other student. Special needs education includes differential teaching, counselling, technical aid and personal assistance.

Inclusion and Special Needs Education (0th-10th Form)16Lower Secondary Education (7th 10th Form / 13-16 yrs. Old)Primary Education (1st-6th Form / 7-12 yrs. Old)Compulsory Education means:Whether the education is received in a publicly provided school (Folkeskole), in a private school or at home is a matter of individual choice, as long as accepted standards are met. It is the education itself that is compulsory, not the school.

17CURRICULUMANDGRADING SYSTEM18CurriculumThe teaching at form levels 1-9 will be given within three subject themes and includes for all students the subjects below (supplemented with optional subjects).

1) Subjects in the humanitiesa) Danish in all form levels.b) English in form levels 3-9.c) Christian studies in all form levels, except for the year in which confirmation takes place.d) History in form levels 3-9.e) Social studies in form levels 8 and 9.2) Practical/Creative subjectsa) Physical education in all form levels.b) Music in form levels 1-6.c) Visual arts in form levels 1-5.d) Design, wood and metalwork, home economics in one or more form levels between levels 4-7.3) Science Subjectsa) Mathematics in all form levels.b) Natural sciences/technology in form levels 1-6.c) Geography in form levels 7-9.d) Biology in form levels 7-9.e) Physics/chemistry in form levels 7-9.

19The following topics are a compulsory part of the education programme in the primary schools1) Road safety,2) Health and sexual education and family studies,3) Educational, vocational and labour market orientation.

20Grading SystemThe danish marking scale is a 7-point grading scale. It was introduced in 2007 to make Danish grades more comparable in an international context.

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Upper secondary education covers two to five years of education. There are two choices covered by the umbrella term youth education programmes:General Upper Secondary Education ProgrammesVocational Upper Secondary Education And Training (VET) Programmes

Upper Secondary Education/Youth Education Prog. (10th 12th Form / 16 19 yrs. old)22Youth education programmes include general education qualifying for access to higher education and vocational education qualifying primarily for access to the labour market.There are both public and private upper secondary schools. To be admitted to an upper secondary education course, a pupil must have completed nine years of basic education and fulfilled certain subject requirements. In some cases an admission test is also required.

23General Upper Secondary Education ProgrammesGeneral upper secondary education programmes, which primarily prepare for higher education:

1. The 3-year Upper Secondary School Leaving Examination (STX) - The academic standard is closely linked to aspects of the academic subjects, and the students are to achieve general education and study competence in the humanities, natural science and social science with a view to being in a position to complete higher education.

2. The 3-year Higher Commercial Examination (HHX) - focuses on business and socio-economic disciplines in combination with foreign languages and other general subjects.

3. The 3-year Higher Technical Examination (HTX) - focuses on technological and scientific subjects in combination with general subjects.

4. The 2-year Higher Preparatory Examination (HF) - The students are to attain analytical and critical skills and achieve insight into natural science, social science and humanistic contexts. They are also to develop their linguistic competences.24Vocational Upper Secondary Education And Training (VET) ProgrammesVocational upper secondary education and training (VET) programmes, which primarily prepare for a career in a specific trade or industry.

The duration of VET programmes is normally 3-4 years but may vary between 1 and 5 years.25