Denmark: The crisis in public schools seeps into an election marked by the Trump threat

CopenhagenNoise and violence in classrooms, teacher discontent, and the failure to include students with special needs have been the issues that have dominated the Danish election campaign for the elections taking place this Tuesday. These topics have resonated far more with voters than others such as increased defense spending, immigration, or the rising cost of living. Nor has the tense relationship with the United States gained significant traction. Regarding the future of Greenlandwhich two months ago seemed about to be swallowed up by Donald Trump.

The political agenda surrounding schools has been set by the Social Democratic Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, in power since 2019, who wants to retain her mandate with an ambitious proposal to reform schools from top to bottom. The Social Democrats have dubbed the plan "Lilleskolen"(The small school) which aims to reduce the number of students in the early years of primary education by half, so that there are only 14 students per classroom. The proposal responds to growing concerns about student welfare, disruptions and aggression reported by teachers, as well as a public school system that many see as failing. Just days before election day, Frederiksen's effective handling of the Trump situation has revived her party in the polls. Polls now indicate that Frederiksen's party, presumably despite losing votes compared to the November 2022 elections, will remain the largest in parliament. In the last legislature, many voters criticized the fact that the Social Democrats will form a coalition government with the Liberals and the Moderateswhich veered too far towards right-wing policies.

To compensate, Frederiksen has focused her election campaign on combating social inequalities and has promised to introduce a wealth tax on the richest citizens, which has sparked outrage among the business community. Polls also indicate a slight advantage for the left-wing parties in forming a governing majority, or the possibility of a repeat of a coalition with the Social Democrats and the center-right. If any of these scenarios materialize, Frederiksen could reach the end of her term having served eleven years as head of government and securing a third term. She could thus become the longest-serving leader in the Nordic country since World War II.

Classrooms under pressure

In presenting the plan to reform public schools, Frederiksen listed a long series of problems she believes must be addressed: student dissatisfaction, a shortage of teachers, insufficient support for students with special needs, poor classroom conditions, and declining performance in subjects like mathematics (with some students in their first year failing). One of the most serious problems for the Social Democratic education minister, Mattias Tesfaye, is also the lack of authority teachers have in the classroom. In highly controversial remarks a few months ago, Tesfaye referred to some students as being "very rude" and stated that it was "absolutely necessary" to have a conversation with families about how to foster greater respect among students for the school community.

According to data from the Danish Teachers' Union (DLF), more than half of teachers admit that violence and aggression in classrooms have increased in the last five years, with 11% of teachers experiencing violence in their classrooms daily, and 30% experiencing it every week. According to another investigation by the newspaper BerlingskeMore than 8,000 public school teachers have experienced physical violence against them in the last year. This pressure is compounded by the fact that teachers describe a current educational model in classrooms "where there are increasingly more students who require special attention, an adapted curriculum, or individualized support," explains Jorge Mose Fernández, a teacher with twenty-six years of experience at his current school, to ARA. "These students require resources that aren't always available in the classroom when the teacher has to address so many problems at once," he says. The measure the Social Democrats want to introduce if they win the elections has been welcomed by teachers' organizations, but it has also drawn criticism, mainly because it will mean hiring 4,000 new teachers in the short term, which is perceived as a serious problem for the community: "Since the current trend is for teachers to put up with the working conditions," says Fernández. Critics also warn that new schools will have to be built to accommodate students in the smaller classrooms. "In Copenhagen alone, 70 schools will have to be built in two years," explained Jakob Næsager, the Conservative Party's education spokesperson in the capital. To make all this possible, Frederiksen's party says an annual budget of €670 million and an additional €800 million for building new schools will be necessary. The other parties also promised a flood of millions for public schools during the campaign to counter Frederiksen's chances of reelection. mandate.