**Declining Enrollment in Welfare-Focused Programs: Minister Demands Balance in Education System**
Enrollment in major welfare-oriented programs, such as education for teachers, social workers, nurses, and early childhood educators, continues to decline, according to new data from the Ministry of Education and Research (Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet).
For the fourth consecutive year, the number of students accepted into teacher training has dropped. A similar trend is observed in the early childhood education program. Overall, enrollment in the four major welfare-focused programs has decreased by four percent.
As of midnight, schools have sent responses to over 85,000 individuals who applied for higher education this year. Of these applicants, 61,351 will receive an offer for a study place, while the remaining applicants will face rejection.
Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund (M) expressed both satisfaction and concern over these new enrollment figures. “This year’s admission figures confirm, however, that there is still a need to create a better balance in our education system,” she stated in a press release.
Egelund particularly highlighted the decrease in admissions to teacher training and nursing programs, as well as language studies, as part of the issue. Concurrently, qualified applicants are being rejected from other programs. “In other words, there is still a need for educational reforms that can contribute to a more educated workforce and better balance in the educational landscape,” the minister commented.
Overall, enrollment in higher education remains stable compared to 2023, but the number of qualified applicants who are denied admission has risen by eight percent.
Danish Business (Dansk Erhverv) has expressed concerns regarding this trend. Education Director Mads Eriksen Storm pointed out a significant increase in the number of applicants for engineering and IT programs, while admissions have not kept pace. “It is problematic that so many qualified young people are being rejected from programs where we in the business sector are desperately in need of qualified labor,” Storm stated.
While enrollment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs has increased by one percent, the number of students in IT programs has decreased by one percent.