The Danish school system is completely different than our school system in Belgium.
When a child is born, the mother can take 1 year maternity leave.
Depending on the parents, the child stays home with the parents. Sometimes they go to a day-care or go to a more private institution.
80% of the children when reaching the age of 3 are going to a kindergarten. They play a lot here, also to ‘learn’ different things.
When they are 5/6 years old, they go to pre-school class or grade 0. The pupils sit at desks, learn to count, learn the alphabet, …
You can compare this with our first year of primary school.
Then, when they are 7 years old, they complete the other grades. So from grade 0 up till grade 9. This is called the primary and secondary education. Normally, they are about 15/16 years old in the 9th grade. The 9th grade can be seen as their last year.
The pupils can choose after 9th grade if they want to go to the 10th grade but they don’t have to. The 10th form/grade is an educational offer for young people who, after finishing their primary and lower secondary schooling (9th form), feel the need for additional academic qualifications and clarification of their further educational opportunities before being able to complete a post-compulsory education.
When a child is born, the mother can take 1 year maternity leave.
Depending on the parents, the child stays home with the parents. Sometimes they go to a day-care or go to a more private institution.
80% of the children when reaching the age of 3 are going to a kindergarten. They play a lot here, also to ‘learn’ different things.
When they are 5/6 years old, they go to pre-school class or grade 0. The pupils sit at desks, learn to count, learn the alphabet, …
You can compare this with our first year of primary school.
Then, when they are 7 years old, they complete the other grades. So from grade 0 up till grade 9. This is called the primary and secondary education. Normally, they are about 15/16 years old in the 9th grade. The 9th grade can be seen as their last year.
The pupils can choose after 9th grade if they want to go to the 10th grade but they don’t have to. The 10th form/grade is an educational offer for young people who, after finishing their primary and lower secondary schooling (9th form), feel the need for additional academic qualifications and clarification of their further educational opportunities before being able to complete a post-compulsory education.
There are also a lot of pupils who choose to go to a continuation school. This is some kind of boarding school. They can do it after 8th or 9th grade.
The schooling (primary and secondary education) is distributed into 3 areas:
1. Subjects in the humanities
2. Practical/Creative subjects
3. Science Subjects
The schooling (primary and secondary education) is distributed into 3 areas:
1. Subjects in the humanities
2. Practical/Creative subjects
3. Science Subjects
Subjects in the humanities contains :
a) 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.
a) 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.
Practical/creative subjects are
a)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.
a)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.
Science Subjects are the following ones:
a) 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.
a) 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.
Some topics are compulsory for the programme of the primary school. These topics are Road Safety, Health and sexual education and family studies and Educational, vocational and labour market orientation.
When pupils are in grade 7-9, they can choose if they want to study German or French.
There aren´t many pupils who choose French: In my school, Sct. Severin Skole, there isn´t a class for French.
When pupils are in grade 7-9, they can choose if they want to study German or French.
There aren´t many pupils who choose French: In my school, Sct. Severin Skole, there isn´t a class for French.
When pupils have finished their 9th( or 10th grade) they can study on. This is then called their upper secondary education. They can choose between 3 programmes:
- General upper secondary programme = gymnasium. In this education, again they can choose between 4 programmes.
The aim of this education is to prepare pupils for further studies. They want to enhance the independence of the pupils and their analytical skills. If you had to compare this to Belgium, I would say you can call this ASO.
- Vocational upper secondary education and training programmes. This prepares trainees for a career in a specific trade or industry. It´s both a theoretical as a practical education. Trainees acquires theoretical, practical, general and personal skills.
There is a choice of 12 vocational clusters:
- General upper secondary programme = gymnasium. In this education, again they can choose between 4 programmes.
The aim of this education is to prepare pupils for further studies. They want to enhance the independence of the pupils and their analytical skills. If you had to compare this to Belgium, I would say you can call this ASO.
- Vocational upper secondary education and training programmes. This prepares trainees for a career in a specific trade or industry. It´s both a theoretical as a practical education. Trainees acquires theoretical, practical, general and personal skills.
There is a choice of 12 vocational clusters:
I think you can compare this with BSO/TSO
This upper secondary education is completed between the ages 16-19. But some pupils are also older.
After graduating from the secondary school, they can go to university/college.
If you want to become a teacher in Denmark, your education takes at least 4 years: The teachers here were very surprised when I told them I would be 21 years old when I graduate and be a teacher. In Denmark it´s impossible to be a teacher at that age.
As said before, they don’t have exams until the 8th grade.
They do need to complete some national tests. This is to follow the knowledge and strengths of the individual pupil.
They have to complete 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.
Some general facts/differences.
- One year, a teacher can teach the 9th grade but the next year it´s possible she/he has to teach the 1st grade.
- The teachers have to go from one classroom to another, not the pupils.
- Especially in the lower grades, pupils don´t wear shoes in the classroom.
- Pupils call their teacher by their first name.
- It´s a very relaxed sphere.
- The emphasis is on independent working : a lot of group work : Learn pupils how to learn.
- There´s equality between the teacher and the pupil. Pupils cooperate with teacher on decisions concerning content and method.
- Focus on pupils, not on marks. It´s a heterogeneous group.
- Often self-made material: Teachers use student´s books but they also make a lot of things themselves. They also use the smart board very often.
With help from (http://eng.uvm.dk/~/media/Files/English/Fact%20sheets/080101_fact_sheet_the_folkeskole.ashx)
Note: Grade or (form) level is the same
After graduating from the secondary school, they can go to university/college.
If you want to become a teacher in Denmark, your education takes at least 4 years: The teachers here were very surprised when I told them I would be 21 years old when I graduate and be a teacher. In Denmark it´s impossible to be a teacher at that age.
As said before, they don’t have exams until the 8th grade.
They do need to complete some national tests. This is to follow the knowledge and strengths of the individual pupil.
They have to complete 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.
Some general facts/differences.
- One year, a teacher can teach the 9th grade but the next year it´s possible she/he has to teach the 1st grade.
- The teachers have to go from one classroom to another, not the pupils.
- Especially in the lower grades, pupils don´t wear shoes in the classroom.
- Pupils call their teacher by their first name.
- It´s a very relaxed sphere.
- The emphasis is on independent working : a lot of group work : Learn pupils how to learn.
- There´s equality between the teacher and the pupil. Pupils cooperate with teacher on decisions concerning content and method.
- Focus on pupils, not on marks. It´s a heterogeneous group.
- Often self-made material: Teachers use student´s books but they also make a lot of things themselves. They also use the smart board very often.
With help from (http://eng.uvm.dk/~/media/Files/English/Fact%20sheets/080101_fact_sheet_the_folkeskole.ashx)
Note: Grade or (form) level is the same
boeiend!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenkom je ons dit ook nog eens uitleggen als je terug bent? in een les onderwijsbeleid.
geniet er daar nog van!! :)