A large number of young applicants for vocational education programs face long commute times: For nearly half of them, it takes more than 45 minutes to reach their first choice. This stands in stark contrast to applicants for high schools, where only 12 percent experience such long travel times. These figures come from a new report prepared by the Ministry of Children and Education. Minister of Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye (Social Democrats) expresses dissatisfaction with the situation. He believes it is unfair that young people choosing vocational education programs have to spend significantly more time on transportation than those opting for high school. “I am not satisfied with the fact that so many young people have to travel far to start their youth education – and I do not think it is fair that those going to high school can ride a bike to school, while those wanting a vocational education have to wake up early to take a train or a bus,” he says.
The significant difference in travel times is due to the fact that high schools have a high geographical coverage, while many vocational education programs are only offered at a limited number of vocational schools. To address this issue, the government is working on creating a new youth education program that is more geographically accessible across the country. Tesfaye explains that the government is in the process of a major reform of youth education programs, which will ensure attractive youth environments close to the young people’s homes. “We are working on a major reform of youth education programs, which will ensure that all young people across the country have an attractive youth environment close to their homes,” the minister says.
The reform, which has been in progress for almost a year, will be presented before Christmas. In practice, this will mean that academic and practical youth education programs will be merged in many places. “This is already something that is happening in several parts of the country,” Tesfaye adds. The issue is particularly pronounced in areas like North Zealand and North Jutland, where 64 and 59 percent of students, respectively, have long commute times to vocational education programs. In comparison, only 13 percent in the central capital municipalities experience similar transportation challenges.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are also concerned about the long commute times. “It is worrying that there is such a large difference in travel times. Long commute times lead to dropout rates from vocational education programs,” states education manager Kasper Munk Rasmussen from SME Denmark. He emphasizes that the lack of skilled workers requires better transportation options to vocational education programs.