Denmark targets 100 lowest-performing schools in literacy and math push
Wednesday 10th June 2026 on 07:30 in
Denmark
The Danish government will launch a major intervention in 2027 to raise academic standards at the country’s 100 weakest primary schools, Education Minister Magnus Heunicke announced Wednesday, calling the current state of student proficiency in reading and math “unacceptable.”
Speaking to public broadcaster DR, Heunicke said too many pupils leave compulsory schooling without mastering basic skills, adding that the problem is concentrated in a subset of struggling schools. “This is a huge issue, and we’re going to tackle it where the challenges are greatest,” he said.
The initiative, set to begin with the 2027 school year, will focus exclusively on Danish and mathematics—the two subjects where performance gaps are most severe. Ane Qvortrup, a professor of education at the University of Southern Denmark, welcomed the targeted approach. “It makes perfect sense to start with the 100 schools in deepest trouble,” she told DR. “These are the children facing the steepest inequality, and by focusing here, we can also learn lessons for broader reforms.”
But both Qvortrup and Dorte Andreas, chair of the national association of school principals, warned against short-term fixes. While intensive “turbo courses” in reading and math can yield quick results—particularly ahead of exams—Qvortrup noted that gains often fade. “The knowledge doesn’t stick as well,” she said. Andreas stressed that lasting improvement requires sustained effort: “This isn’t a quick fix. Real change takes years, not weeks.”
Heunicke acknowledged the limitations of accelerated programs but insisted the government would deploy “everything we know works.” He ruled out inaction: “The one thing I refuse to do is sit by while students spend a decade in school and leave without basic skills.”
The selection of schools and the project’s budget remain undecided. The coalition’s policy platform earmarks 5 billion kroner for early childhood and primary education but does not specify funding sources.