the education system

I have not learned or come to understand everything about the school system here but there are a few things I have discovered. I mentioned when our kids first started school here in September how important learning through play is. That seems to be the philosophy of most primary schools here. They don't focus as much on academic achievement during the first part of their education as they do in Canada. They are more concerned about a child's ability to problem-solve and have confidence in their own abilities to complete tasks and learn new things. Gross and fine motor development and general life skills seem to play a larger role here as well. Freya and Dean are in a different class than most Danes of course because they are in receiving classes with other newcomers, but they will eventually start to integrate into regular classes with their Danish peers. Some of their experiences are unique to their classes and may not always represent what a regular class is like. It is normal for Freya and Dean to spend a whole afternoon preparing food or making toys out of wood.  I have heard that Danish children are behind other countries during the first part of their education but quickly catch up when they are older. This doesn't concern me at all with Dean because he is only in grade two but I was a bit worried about Freya falling behind in math. I wanted her to be able to keep up with the Alberta curriculum so that when we returned to Canada, she wouldn't be lost. I brought distance learning material with me from home and have been trying to supplement her math here with that, but it's difficult to convince her to have a math class at her home after being in school all day. I tried homeschooling with Liam when we lived in Mexico for a bit, but I am just not a natural at it. So I will just have to do the best I can with it and give her extra support next year if she needs it.

In most families here, both parents work and have an average of two children who attend daycare after maternity/parental leaves are over. All children start school a year older here and must attend 10 years of "folkeskole", which includes kindergarten (grade 0) and grades 1-9. They can then attend an optional grade 10 as well as a few years of "gymnasium" which is like high school in Canada. After grade 9, they also have the option to take a sabbatical where they can work for a year to gain some life experience and perhaps get a better idea of the direction they want to take in their education. There are many workplaces who have specific positions reserved for employees aged 16-18. It is also common for youth to attend an "efterskole" for a year after grade 9 before going on to gymnasium. These are boarding schools that concentrate on specific areas that they may be passionate about, such as science, sports or the arts. A few of my cousins did this after grade nine and my cousin's son who is Ila and Mei's age is currently attending a boarding school in the south of Denmark which is located in an old castle. This also gives teenagers an opportunity to become independent and perhaps appreciate their family some more.

Those who are more interested in the trades can go into technical schools after 9th grade and those interested in eventually attending universities would attend gymnasiums. At the end of grade 9, students take exams to gain entry into their desired program. The school that Ila and Mei attend is called Kolding Gymnasium. It has a regular Danish gymnasium program three years in length and also has the International Baccalaureate program, which consists of the Pre-IB year that Ila and Mei are currently in, as well as two additional IB years. This same program is in many countries around the world and is taught in English. Lethbridge has one as well at their north-side high school. Ila and Mei have made friends with many kids in the IB program as well as some from the regular Danish classes. The group of IB students is small compared to the rest of the school with just two groups of students attending all the same classes together. This, combined with their varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds, makes for a very unique social environment, one that Ila and Mei have thrived in.

The schooling after grade 9 here is much more flexible and the options more specific to the individual students' interests. The age of the students is also more varied. In Ila and Mei's classes, the youngest student is 15 and the oldest is almost 20. This is common in the years after 9th grade as kids take time to work and figure out the path they want to take.
When students reach the age of 18, they can receive a study grant from the government to attend gymnasium, technical school, university, etc. They receive enough to pay rent, utilities and meet day to day expenses. If they are living at home with their parents,they can also receive a little bit of pocket money. Post-secondary school is also free here, not just for Danish citizens, but to any citizen of the EU.

Despite the fact that the children seem to lag behind academically in the beginning and have only ten years of mandatory education, studies have shown that Danes are among the most literate people in the world and Denmark has one of the best higher education systems in the world. Not having to go into extreme debt for post secondary education makes a difference in the amount of people who choose to become educated. There are no huge gaps between economic and social classes here due to the country's extensive investment in education.
I think they have it figured out.

Kolding Gymnasium, where Ila and Mei attend Pre-IB (grade 10)