Youth education programs in Denmark’s rural areas may be at risk due to declining youth populations, warns the Minister of Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye. According to new calculations from the ministry, Denmark is projected to lose youth education options in several smaller towns by 2035. Currently, 85 towns offer upper secondary education programs (STX, short for ‘stx-uddannelser’), but this number is expected to decrease to 75 within the next 12 years.
Tesfaye fears that this trend will particularly impact peripheral areas such as Kalundborg, Lemvig, and Ringkøbing-Skjern, which already have fewer educational opportunities for young people. He highlights that declining youth demographics will create “educational deserts,” which he considers politically unacceptable.
During the Sorø meeting, where the education sector was debated, the Minister emphasized the need for reform. The goal is to create a new youth education program that combines both academic and vocational skills. This hybrid model aims to ensure that young people can remain in their local communities instead of having to move to larger cities for better education opportunities.
Tesfaye also suggests adjusting the admission requirements for STX programs, which may encourage more young people to pursue vocational training. By integrating vocational education with more academic subjects, the Minister hopes to provide greater opportunities for youth to stay in their local areas, thereby maintaining a wider geographical coverage of educational options.