Danish school students are calling for a more creative and practical-oriented approach to education to combat boredom and lack of motivation during the school day. This is highlighted in a new statement from the president of the Danish School Students, Laura Drachmann Poulsen, who points out the need for a teaching method that can make learning more relevant and engaging for students. “It is largely about many students not finding a purpose in the school day they encounter. This could be because they cannot see how the education can be used in practice, or simply because they do not find it fun to learn,” says Laura Drachmann Poulsen. She emphasizes that a change is necessary to improve students’ performance and well-being.
A recent analysis from the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions’ Labour Market Council supports this view by showing an increase in the number of students who do not achieve the minimum grade 02 in Danish or mathematics at the end of 9th grade. This indicates a clear connection between students’ engagement in education and their academic achievements. According to Laura Drachmann Poulsen, it is particularly in the upper grades that the quality of education deteriorates as it becomes more sedentary and monotonous. “I think we need to move away from that and instead draw inspiration from the type of education that we students specifically point out as motivating,” she adds.
She suggests more group work and project-based learning as possible solutions. These proposals for a more dynamic and practical approach to education could potentially rejuvenate students’ interest in school and improve their academic results. It is now up to school management and the Ministry of Education to consider how these ideas can be implemented in the Danish public school system to meet the needs and expectations of students.