Citizen in Denmark - Ny i Danmark

Primary and lowersecondary schoolMunicipal primary and lower secondaryschool and private schoolsAll children are entitled to free tuition at Danish municipalprimary and lower secondary school. This tuition includesa one-year, pre-school class followed by nine years ofprimary and lower secondary school and a tenth classwhich is optional.In addition to municipal primary and lower secondaryschool, there are also independent primary and lowersecondary schools and private schools where tuition is paidfor by the parents. The private independent primary andlower secondary schools may have a different conceptualframework than municipal primary and lower secondaryschools, but from an academic and social point of view,children learn exactly the same. We refer to www.friskoler.dk for further details.You must enrol the child at schoolChildren automatically attend a municipal primary and lowersecondary school in the area where the family lives. Whenthe child nears school age, the parents will receive a letterfrom the school stating when you should enrol the child atschool and an offer to visit the school. You can also chooseanother municipal primary and lower secondary schoolor a private independent primary and lower secondaryschool. In that case, it is up to you to contact the schoolof your choice.What to remember when starting schoolBefore the child begins in school, you will receive a letterlisting the practical things your child will need in school, suchas a school bag, writing implements and a lunchbox.The aims of municipal primary and lower secondaryschoolDanish primary and lower secondary education is basedon the Danish Education Act. In its introduction, it statesthe following about the aims of primary and lowersecondary education:“ § 1. “Section 1. Together with parents, primary and lowersecondary school shall provide pupils with knowledgeand skills that: prepare them for further study and givethem the desire to learn more, make them familiarwith Danish culture and history, provide them with anunderstanding of other countries and cultures, contributetowards their understanding for man’s interaction withnature and promote the individual student’s all-rounddevelopment.Section 2. Primary and lower secondary school mustdevelop working methods and create a frameworkthat promotes experience, absorption and enterpriseso that students develop their imagination, sense ofrecognition and self-belief, thus enabling them to takea position and act.Section 3. Primary and lower secondary school shall preparethe students towards participation, joint responsibility,rights and duties in a free and democratic society. Schoolactivities must thus be characterised by intellectualliberty, equality and democracy*.SCHOOL AND EDUCATION75