Business groups call for more teachers to reverse declining academic standards in Danish schools

Two of Denmark’s largest business organisations have warned that falling academic performance in primary schools threatens the country’s competitiveness, DR reports.

Both Dansk Erhverv and Dansk Industri (DI) say urgent investment is needed to improve student achievement, with a focus on increasing teacher numbers and introducing team-teaching models.

“We find this deeply concerning,” said Mads Eriksen Storm, head of education and research policy at Dansk Erhverv. “There are already too many students struggling in school. This is the education system’s biggest problem, and it’s getting worse.”

Mikkel Haarder, deputy director for research, education, and diversity at DI, warned that declining standards would weaken Denmark’s economic position. “Our only raw material is what we have between our ears. We must be skilled—and more skilled than our competitors,” he said.

Both groups argue that more teachers in classrooms, particularly through team-teaching arrangements, would improve learning outcomes. “There is solid evidence that two-teacher systems in classes where needed have a positive effect,” Haarder said.

Storm added that such models could also reduce costs by keeping more students in mainstream education rather than special classes. “Two teachers in a classroom can help include more students in regular schooling, which is cheaper than special education,” he said.

The organisations acknowledge that funding will be required but note that several political parties have already pledged to invest in schools ahead of the election.