Students protest education reform proposal outside Odense Congress Center in Denmark

Around 50 students from htx (Higher Technical Examination) gathered outside the Odense Congress Center on Wednesday afternoon, chanting slogans and holding large banners as government officials and various stakeholders arrived for an educational policy summit that will continue through Thursday.

The demonstration was prompted by a recent proposal for an education reform unveiled by the government, which has raised concerns about the future of the htx program.

“This demonstration illustrates how passionately htx students care about their education. We’re calling for htx to be preserved, and I will voice this at the summit,” said Mads Haugbølle Behrendsen, a co-organizer of the protest and vice-chairman of the Vocational Schools Student Organization, which represents htx students.

The proposed reform outlines a future with three youth educational paths: stx (general upper secondary education), hhx (higher commercial examination), and a new program called epx (vocational and professional-oriented examination), set to launch in 2030.

Students are anxious about the government’s mention of working on a “solution model,” which could involve integrating htx, fully or partially, into the stx program with a more technical focus.

“This would extinguish the unique culture that currently exists within htx,” Behrendsen argued. He emphasized that abolishing htx as a standalone program would harm the professional pride of its students.

Despite a decline in enrollment in htx programs, with 11,000 students currently enrolled, Behrendsen stressed the importance of maintaining diverse educational opportunities, stating that limiting options would shatter the dreams of many students.

Notable government figures attending the summit include Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and Minister of Education and Research Christina Egelund.