Userinvolvement in the Danish public school
- Pupils, parents and workforce
Anette Jensen
Head of the department at ”Education and Learning”,
Municipality of Vejle
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
HIGH USER INVOLVEMENT IN DENMARK
- TWO MAIN REASONS TO THIS
1 The Danish society is a Welfare State, characterized by a high
level of involvement, few social conflicts, and a labour market
in which the social partners* together determine the pay and
working conditions on the Danish Labour Market. This is called
the Danish Model.
2 The Danish democracy was cultivated and developed during
the 19.th. century with numerous so called ”Folk High Schools”
being built, thereby spreading knowledge and wisdom across
the country.
 The effects of this can easily be identified in the Danish school
system, in it’s non-hieracic construction, and its high level of
user involvement.
*Labour-organisations (FTF, AC),
Confederation of Danish Employers (DA)
Confederation of Trade-Unions (LO)
and Local Government Denmark (KL).
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
PUPILS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
 School Council, Pupil-representatives from each class in
school – the school council can submit proposals to the school
board.
 School Board – two/three pupils are part of the school board,
ensuring their voice in matters concerning teaching and
everyday life at school.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
INVOLVING PARENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL

-
School Boards are made up of
Parents (the parents hold the mayority)
Headmaster
Deputy headteacher
Shop stewards
 In Denmark there’s a long tradition of involving parents in the
school. The new public school-reform, underpins this aspect of
the Danish public schools, encouraging parents to take even
greater part in their childrens school and learning-processes.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
WORKFORCEINVOLVEMENT IN THE DANISH
PUBLIC SCHOOL
 School Boards – Shop Stewards are a part of this Board, in
which the Parents has the mayority. The School Boards points
out the guidelines of the school, on a strategic level, bearing in
mind, the employers right to direct and allocate work, and not
interfering in his/her’s right to do so.
 Employeecommitees at each school. A comittee, in which the
working environment is in the core. Shop Stewards and
employeerepresentatives meet with Management to discuss
various issues, regarding employer-employee-relations.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
Local excamples from the
municipality of Vejle, Denmark
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
Example
 In 2014, the national board of ”Danish pupils” (Danske
Skoleelever) awarded the municipality of Vejle the prize for
being the most Pupil-freindly Municipality in Denmark.
 The award was given because of our willingness to include
pupils in implementing the schoolreform on many levels.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
Example
 The Danish ministry of Education supports a project, organised
by The national board of ”Danish pupils” (Danske Skoleelever),
in which the municipality of Vejle takes parts, together with
different municipalities.
 In this project, pupils are tought intensively in areas such as
pupil-involvement, well-being and knowledge of society.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
Example
Constructing the school of tomorrow
 ”The school on the move” – Rethinking the public school in the
Municipality of Vejle, Denmark
 Camps were arranged in 2010 – with a wide range of different
participants: Parents, pupils, politicians, citizens, teachers,
officers etc.
 On the basis of inputs and discussions during these camps, six
principles were constructed. Principles, which all adress
certain areas regarding the way our schools are organized and
run, with an emphasis on cultivating learning conditions for our
pupils.
 Based opon these principles, the public shools in our
municipality are free to rethink or ”remodel” specific areas in
our public schools.
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)
SIX MAIN PRINCIPLES
 The mission of the school is to be on the move – in order to
ensure that pupils have the best possible conditions for
learning
 The school see to that every child and youngster, meet
attentive adults every day in school
 The school educates people, who master life and learning
 The school is based upon the pupils courage, and desire to
learn and understand
 The school develop flexible and innovative ways of organizing
itself
 The school is a part of society – and society is a part of the
school
Visit our website at www.skolereformvejle.dk (in danish)