The Danish government has granted an extra 50 million kroner for new physical books in public schools, enough for up to 200,000 titles.
DR reports that the grant was announced on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. On the same day, six boxes of the book “Eftersøgt” by Jakob Brodersen were delivered to class 9.a at Videbæk Skole in West Jutland.
Education Minister Magnus Heunicke of the Social Democrats told DR that Denmark cannot wait ten years for books to reach classrooms. He described ten years as an entire school life, and said the money is meant to get books into use already this year. Reading, he said, is the key to learning in all subjects.
The 50 million kroner comes on top of 540 million kroner that the Folketinget has already allocated for new books over the period 2025 to 2034. That funding, known as the “boggave”, was agreed by a broad parliamentary majority in 2024, according to DR.
The Ministry of Children and Education states in a press release that up to 200,000 additional books will now be sent to schools. Each book is expected to be read by up to seven pupils per year. The ministry adds that the money is channeled through Center for Undervisningsmidler, which buys and lends books and teaching materials to schools nationwide.
The ministry describes the allocation as part of the folkeskolens kvalitetsprogram, and confirms it supplements the earlier 540 million kroner. Background material from Altinget, published in March 2024, lists the 540 million kroner for physical books among 33 points in the school agreement. That overview also includes a 25 million kroner reading campaign.
Researcher points to balance between paper and screens
School researcher Andreas Rasch-Christensen from VIA University College told DR that the new grant is a step in the right direction. He said research indicates that more analogue material can support pupils’ reading skills. In his view, the funding reflects a recognition that digitalization has gone too far in the Danish folkeskole.
Rasch-Christensen also said that buying books is not enough on its own, because many teaching materials are digital. He described the shift as a long transition process. Heunicke agreed, and said more funds are also needed for teachers and for a general improvement of schools, as reported by DR.
The push follows concerns about what the minister calls a reading crisis, with pupils leaving school without sufficient reading skills. The most recent PISA study, from 2022, found that nearly one in five ninth-grade pupils in Denmark reads so poorly that it causes problems in daily life. The debate over screens and paper has already led Danish schools to reintroduce textbooks.
DR adds that children in SFOs and day care are also covered, with 20 million kroner set aside for new books there.
