The Danish primary school system is once again undergoing significant changes, with the latest reform allowing 8th and 9th graders to replace two school days per week with unpaid internships. This is only the latest in a long line of educational overhauls aimed at modernizing the nation’s curriculum and learning culture.
Changing Gears: Denmark Introduces Junior Apprenticeship Program
Beginning in the 2024–2025 school year, Danish primary school students in the final years of lower secondary school can now participate in a “junior apprenticeship” program where they spend two days per week in unpaid internships at trades-based businesses like carpentry, farming, or bakeries. This initiative aims to encourage more students to pursue vocational education by giving them hands-on experience in skilled trades. This will give students an opportunity to try real jobs and learn what working is like.
Students still attend school three days a week, where essential subjects such as Danish and mathematics must be covered. The program requires students and their families to secure internships themselves. Early reports show that this shift is fostering stronger ties between educational institutions, municipalities, and local businesses—a collaboration not typical in Denmark’s traditional classroom-focused education model. The program seems to be helping schools, local businesses and students work together.
Milestones in Danish Education Reforms
While the junior apprenticeship program marks a bold step in blending classroom learning with real-world experience, it is far from the first radical modification in Danish public education. Over the last five decades, major shifts have defined the way children in Denmark are educated.
1970: Sex Education Becomes Mandatory
In 1970, The Danish primary school introduced mandatory sex education. Topics such as contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and reproduction became integral to school syllabi. This was considered a response to the societal shifts of the time, including new attitudes toward gender equality and the legalization of pornography in 1969. The decision sparked controversy, leading to complaints filed with the European Court of Human Rights—which ultimately upheld the mandate.
2007: A New Grading Scale
In 2007, the traditional 13-point grading system, in place since 1963, was replaced with a 7-point scale. The new scale was introduced to make it easier to compare Danish grades internationally. On this scale, 12 is the highest grade, reflecting an “excellent performance,” while -3 indicates an “unacceptable performance.” The passing grade is 02. Despite its continued use, the system has faced criticism for being too coarse and for contributing to unhealthy performance pressure. A report in 2019 by the Danish Evaluation Institute highlighted concerns about large gaps between grade levels and a lack of recognition for outstanding academic work.
2009: Preschool Class Becomes Compulsory
Although most children in Danish primary school were already attending preschool classes before moving on to first grade, the government made it mandatory in 2009 to ensure that all children had equal preparation for school. The shift was positively received by educators, who noted that the transition into formal schooling became smoother for students.
2014: “Home Economics” Becomes “Food Knowledge”
Reflecting a modernized approach to lifestyle and health education, Denmark renamed its “Home Economics” course to “Food Knowledge” in 2014. The subject expanded its focus from basic cooking skills to also include nutrition, food science, and sustainability. However, some experts criticized the change for not enforcing a minimum number of instructional hours, limiting the program’s potential impact. At the time, many pointed out that while there was growing public concern about unhealthy eating habits, there was little political will to enforce concrete time allocations for the subject.
Looking Ahead: Practical Skills Meet Classroom Learning
The new junior apprenticeship initiative represents a strategic response to a concerning trend: fewer students have been opting for vocational education programs, which are essential for Denmark’s skilled labor force. The Danish Evaluation Institute has reported that only about 19% of students enter a vocational track immediately after lower secondary education—a figure the government aims to increase through initiatives like this.
Integrating workplace experience into the curriculum could help students see the value of education applied in real life. Particularly for students who struggle with abstract subjects such as history or literature, practical work may offer alternative pathways for engagement and skill development.
As Denmark continues to reimagine its public school system to meet contemporary needs, these reforms—past and present—indicate an enduring commitment to crafting an educational system that is not just academically strong, but also relevant, inclusive, and future-oriented.
