Thousands of young Danes face increased challenges in gaining admission to stx schools as government plans to raise entry requirements

Thousands of young Danes face increased challenges in gaining admission to general upper secondary schools, known as stx, as the government plans to raise entry requirements. At a press conference, Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye announced that the admission threshold will rise to an average grade of 6 from the current requirement of 5 for a place at stx or hhx.

Two students affected by this potential reform, 15-year-olds Billie Blaabjerg Steinbock and Villads Bille Nielsen, expressed their concerns about the proposed changes while attending their school in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. They both intend to apply for stx next summer. Villads remarked that he values the broad education stx offers, while Billie dreams of becoming a fashion designer but believes having a general education would be beneficial if she changes her career path.

The new policy suggests three avenues for obtaining a youth education: stx, hhx, and a newly introduced vocational education program called epx, aimed at students who wish to pursue vocational training after finishing compulsory schooling. The government anticipates increased enrollment in epx, as it only requires students to have passed their secondary exams.

Both students acknowledged the importance of making education accessible, but Villads expressed concern that higher requirements might restrict their choices. Billie shared similar sentiments, feeling separated from her friends if she were to join a different program.

School principal Helle Bjerg warned that the heightened admission criteria would intensify existing pressures on students during their final years of compulsory education. Concerns were echoed by educational leaders, who noted that the stricter requirements could exacerbate inequalities, particularly affecting boys, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and those from lower socioeconomic statuses. The government plans to implement this reform by summer 2030.