Danish Education vs. Danish Education vs. American EducationAmerican Education

By Jon FontaineBy Jon Fontaine

Introduction to DenmarkIntroduction to Denmark

An area slightly less than twice the An area slightly less than twice the size of Massachusettssize of Massachusetts

Located in Northern EuropeLocated in Northern Europe Geographically similar to New Geographically similar to New

EnglandEngland Democratic GovernmentDemocratic Government

The People of DenmarkThe People of Denmark

Predominantly Scandinavian, Inuit, Predominantly Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian and Somaliand Somali

Majority of population between 25-54 Majority of population between 25-54 years oldyears old

8.7% of Gross Domestic Product 8.7% of Gross Domestic Product spent on education (8spent on education (8thth in the world) in the world)

Brief History of Danish EducationBrief History of Danish Education

Tiered Structure of Education Tiered Structure of Education Basic School – Level 0-10Basic School – Level 0-10 Upper Secondary – Level 10-13Upper Secondary – Level 10-13 Bachelor Programs – Level 13-15Bachelor Programs – Level 13-15 Master’s Programs – Level 16-17Master’s Programs – Level 16-17 PhD – Level’s 18-20PhD – Level’s 18-20

History ContinuedHistory Continued

Pre-Primary EducationPre-Primary Education• Introduces Children to a School Introduces Children to a School

EnvironmentEnvironment Primary and Lower SecondaryPrimary and Lower Secondary

• Comprehensive School for 1Comprehensive School for 1stst and 2 and 2ndnd gradesgrades

History ContinuedHistory Continued

Upper Secondary EducationUpper Secondary Education• 16-19 year old students16-19 year old students

General EducationGeneral Education Vocational or Technical EducationVocational or Technical Education

• Production SchoolsProduction Schools Students under 25Students under 25 Helps students obtain qualifications to join Helps students obtain qualifications to join

the job marketthe job market

Education for AllEducation for All

Basic Education is CompulsoryBasic Education is Compulsory More than 50% of students enter More than 50% of students enter

Higher Education yearlyHigher Education yearly Each school prepares students for Each school prepares students for

the next tier in the education the next tier in the education structurestructure

Education for All ContinuedEducation for All Continued

Education is 100% freeEducation is 100% free Tuition is never charged to studentsTuition is never charged to students Students receive monthly financial Students receive monthly financial

aid aid This educational support helps pay This educational support helps pay

for expenses while not working and for expenses while not working and attending schoolattending school

The Danish Education SystemThe Danish Education System

Compared to US, Denmark uses a 7 Compared to US, Denmark uses a 7 point “grading scale”point “grading scale”

Danish Mark 12 equals an ADanish Mark 12 equals an A Danish Mark 00 equals an FDanish Mark 00 equals an F This was introduced in 2007 to make This was introduced in 2007 to make

grading more comparable grading more comparable internationallyinternationally

Danish Education System Danish Education System ContinuedContinued

Self-governing Politics in EducationSelf-governing Politics in Education• Ensures a broad range of options for Ensures a broad range of options for

studentsstudents• Requires institutions to create Requires institutions to create

educational opportunity and educational opportunity and developmentdevelopment

• Each school maintains pedagological Each school maintains pedagological developmentdevelopment

Subjects & Curriculum in DenmarkSubjects & Curriculum in Denmark

HumanitiesHumanities• Danish, English, Christian Studies, Danish, English, Christian Studies,

History, Social StudiesHistory, Social Studies Practical/CreativePractical/Creative

• Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, DesignDesign

Curriculum ContinuedCurriculum Continued

ScienceScience• Math, Natural Sciences, Geography, Math, Natural Sciences, Geography,

Biology, Physics, Biology, Physics, Other TopicsOther Topics

• Road Safety, Health & Sex Ed., Road Safety, Health & Sex Ed., Educational, Vocational and Labor Educational, Vocational and Labor Market OrientationMarket Orientation

School Years Around the WorldSchool Years Around the World

United StatesUnited States• September to JuneSeptember to June• 188 Days188 Days• 943 Annual School Hours943 Annual School Hours

AustraliaAustralia• January to DecemberJanuary to December• 200 Days200 Days

School Years Around the WorldSchool Years Around the World

BrazilBrazil• January to DecemberJanuary to December• 7am to Noon7am to Noon

ChinaChina• September to JulySeptember to July• 7:30am to 5:00pm7:30am to 5:00pm

School Years in DenmarkSchool Years in Denmark

DenmarkDenmark• August to JuneAugust to June• 741 Annual School Hours741 Annual School Hours• Christmas Holiday, Spring Break, Easter Christmas Holiday, Spring Break, Easter

Holiday, Summer Holiday, Autumn BreakHoliday, Summer Holiday, Autumn Break

US School Day Compared to Other US School Day Compared to Other NationsNations

US School DayUS School Day• 7am to 3pm typically7am to 3pm typically• One meal providedOne meal provided• Average 900 Instructional Hours YearlyAverage 900 Instructional Hours Yearly

US School Day ContinuedUS School Day Continued

India and China require 25% more India and China require 25% more schooling than USschooling than US

Students in China attend more school Students in China attend more school days per year than USdays per year than US

Danish Students attend LESS school Danish Students attend LESS school than USthan US

Denmark Education vs United Denmark Education vs United StatesStates

Denmark Instructional Time = 790 Denmark Instructional Time = 790 hours per school yearhours per school year

Demark Averages 9.7 years of school Demark Averages 9.7 years of school for adults, US averages 12for adults, US averages 12

Denmark spends 8.74% on Denmark spends 8.74% on Education, US spends 5.62%Education, US spends 5.62%

ContinuedContinued

Denmark has 7.44 primary teachers Denmark has 7.44 primary teachers per 1000 students, US has 5.49per 1000 students, US has 5.49

Pupil to teacher ratio in Denmark is Pupil to teacher ratio in Denmark is 9.93 to 1, in the US it is 14.29 to 19.93 to 1, in the US it is 14.29 to 1

Denmark’s Primary Education Denmark’s Primary Education Teachers ranked 61Teachers ranked 61stst in the world, in the world, the US teachers ranked 5ththe US teachers ranked 5th

What Can We Learn?What Can We Learn?

Education is something that should Education is something that should be free and compulsorybe free and compulsory

Longer school days and years does Longer school days and years does not correlate to higher educationnot correlate to higher education

Less money spent on higher Less money spent on higher education means more money in the education means more money in the economyeconomy

What Can We Change?What Can We Change?

Shorten school daysShorten school days Put more funding into educationPut more funding into education Focus on students and not testingFocus on students and not testing Increase vocational schools and Increase vocational schools and

trainingtraining Observe other nations and model Observe other nations and model

their successful educational systemstheir successful educational systems

ConclusionConclusion

Education in the US needs to be Education in the US needs to be revampedrevamped• We need to change the way we look at We need to change the way we look at

educationeducation• Education should be a right, not a Education should be a right, not a

businessbusiness• Students need to be given more Students need to be given more

freedom in their educational processfreedom in their educational process

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