Adult education programmes in Denmark

Transcription

1 Adult education programmes in Denmark Dr. Prasenjit Deb, Professor, Department of Adult, Continuing Education & Extension, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India, Pin The Danish education system has its origin in the cathedral and monastery schools established by the Roman Catholic Church in the early middle ages, and seven of the schools established in the 12 th and 13 th centuries still exist today. After the Reformation, which was officially implemented in 1536, the schools were taken over by the Crown. Their main purpose was to prepare the students for theological studies by teaching them to read, write and speak Latin and Greek. Popular elementary education was at that time still very primitive, but in 1721, 240 rytterskoler ("cavalry schools") were established throughout the kingdom. Moreover, the religious movement of Pietism, spreading in the 18 th century, required some level of literacy, thereby promoting the need for public education. The philanthropic thoughts of such people as Rousseau also helped prompt developments in education open to all children. In 1809, the old Clergyman's School was transformed in accordance with the spirit of the time into a humanistic Civil Servant's School which was to "foster true humanity" through immersion in the ancient Greek and Latin cultures combined with some teaching of natural science and modern languages. Throughout the 19 th century (and even up until today), the Danish education system was especially influenced by the ideas of clergyman, politician and poet N. F. S. Grundtvig, who advocated inspiring methods of teaching and the foundation of folk high schools. In 1871, the scientific and technical development of the 19 th century led to a division of the secondary education into two lines: the languages and the mathematics-science line. This division was the backbone of the structure of the Gymnasium (i.e. academic general upper secondary education programme) until the year In 1894, the Folkeskole ("public school", the government-funded primary education system) was formally established (until then, it had been known as Almueskolen ("common school")), and measures were taken to improve the education system to meet the requirements of industrial society. In 1903, the 3-year course of the Gymnasium was directly connected the municipal school through the establishment of the mellemskole ('middle school', grades 6-9), which was later on replaced by the realskole. Previously, students wanting to go to the Gymnasium (and thereby obtain qualification for admission to university) had to take private tuition or similar means as the municipal schools were insufficient. In 1975, the realskole was abandoned and the Folkeskole (primary education) transformed into an egalitarian (classless) system where pupils go to the same schools regardless of their academic merits. Recently, some political parties (e.g. Social Democrats and Liberal Alliance) have advocated extending the time of compulsory education from nine to twelve years. 1 1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/history_of_education_in_denmark retrieved on Page1

2 What is meant in the country when you talk about Adult Education? The target group of Danish AE is adults who have left the mainstream educational system from primary education to long cycle higher education (17 th year of education) What is typical for Adult Education in the country? Danish AE is clearly divided into two subgroups: i) Formal AE, comprising both vocational and general AE and concluding with formal exams. ii) Non-formal AE, building on the traditions of Grundtvig, focusing on individual choice and characterized by NGO-organization and no grades and exams. 2 The General Adult Education Programme The General Adult Education Programme is part of the public education system. The programme aims to provide education that will enable young as well as mature adults to improve or supplement their knowledge and skills within general subjects. It also aims to enhance adults' ability to improve their future job and educational possibilities. General adult education at lower secondary level (in Danish almen voksenuddannelse or, in short, AVU) is provided as single subject courses. General adult education is equivalent to but not identical with the municipal primary and lower secondary school (the Folkeskole). An exception is that the final level within general adult education is D, which is one level higher than the final level of the school-leaving examination of the Folkeskole. Level D provides good academic coherence to the Higher Preparatory Examination Programme (HF). Curricula and examinations are adapted to adults. The teaching leads to an examination which qualifies for admission to continue education at par with the school-leaving certificates obtained after the 9 th and 10 th forms of the Folkeskole. The target group is young as well as mature adults who have never completed lower secondary education or who have a need to improve or supplement their basic education. Every year, approximately 90,000 adults participate in general adult education. The number of students has been increasing in recent years. 3 Legislation The Act on General Adult Education no. 311 of 30 April 2008 from the Ministry of Education regulates the General Education Programme. Relevant umbrella associations and national (service) organisations. The VUC Leaders Association is an umbrella organization of institutions for general adult education: Danish Adult Education Association is an umbrella organization of non-formal adult education: retrieved on eng.uvm.dk/education/adult-education-and-continuing-training/the-general-adult-education-programme retrieved on Page2

3 Providers of Adult Education Formal AE: i) Labour Market Training Centers (AMU) ii) Adult Education Centers, (VUC) iii) Language centres, iv) Technical schools, business schools, agricultural schools and basic social & health service schools, Center for Higher Education (CVU) and universities are all primarily for young people, but offers also AE. Most of them also self-governing state institutions. Non-formal AE: i) Study associations and their local schools exist in all cities and municipalities (about 700 all in all). They offer non-formal AE to increase the individual s overall subject-related insight and skills. Local private institutions most of them part of 5 national AE associations of whom 4 are linked to political parties. ii) Danish University Extension: educative instruction and lectures by the extra-mural departments of the 4 Danish universities, organized by about 80 local committees. iii) Day High Schools (about 25) offer teaching with an educative or job-promoting aim for adults with little formal education and people in a personally or socially vulnerable situation. Private institutions Folk High Schools (about 70) offers residential short courses (less than a fortnight) and residential long courses (of over 12 weeks). Private institutions, some of them linked to religious associations, trade unions or NGO s. 4 Adult Education Centres General adult education is offered at adult education centres (in Danish voksenuddannelsescenter or, in short, VUC) and a few other institutions. There are 29 VUCs in Denmark with a large number of regional satellite departments spread geographically throughout the country. Other kinds of general adult education are also offered at the VUCs: Education for people with reading and writing disabilities (dyslexia) Preparatory education for adults (FVU) Higher preparatory examination courses (HF) Supplementary examination courses at upper secondary level (GS). 5 Structure The teaching on the General Adult Education Programme is based on a single-subject structure, and the subjects can be pieced together according to the individual's own requirements and needs. It is possible to study one or more subjects at the same time. 4 retrieved on eng.uvm.dk/~/media/uvm/filer/english/pdf/fact%20sheets/101221_the_general_adult_education_programme.pdf retrieved on Page3

4 Admission Prior to being admitted, all applicants must see a guidance counsellor in order to secure the best possible entrance to AVU. Each applicant is admitted following a concrete assessment of whether they have qualifications corresponding to the requirements of the subject they wish to enter. Students can then follow the teaching in different subjects at different levels according to their abilities. Subjects and levels The programme consists of a broad range of subjects. As well as an introductory course, supplementary differentiated instruction and student counselling, the programme consists of two groups of subjects: core subjects and optional subjects. The core subjects are: i. Danish ii. Danish as a second language iii. English iv. French v. German vi. History vii. Mathematics viii. Science and social studies. The core subjects must be offered once a year at every adult education centre. The optional subjects are: i. Arts ii. Basic information technology (IT) iii. Cooperation and communication iv. Latin v. Philosophy vi. Physical education and sport vii. Psychology viii. Public speaking. These subjects are optional for the VUCs to offer, and they are therefore not necessarily found at every VUC. The subjects are offered at different levels: Basic, G, F, E and D. A fixed number of teaching hours has been stipulated for each subject by the Ministry of Education. Supplementary differentiated instruction In connection with the subjects, the student can choose to have extra teaching hours to comply with individual requirements and needs. Introductory teaching In order to give an introduction to a subject and its working methods, introductory teaching can be established. Here, students also gain an insight into their own abilities within the subject and further education. 6 Supplementary differentiated instruction In connection with the subjects, the student can choose to have extra teaching hours to comply with individual requirements and needs. 6 Ibid Page4

5 Introductory teaching In order to give an introduction to a subject and its working methods, introductory teaching can be established. Here, students also gain an insight into their own abilities within the subject and further education. Curricula The Ministry of Education draws up curricula for all subjects. The curricula take into account the experience of adult students. Number of weekly lessons Each student decides whether to take part in a single subject or more subjects at a time. The number of teaching hours varies from a few weekly hours to full-time. In addition to the teaching planned by the teacher, the student must expect to spend time on homework with written assignments, preparation of texts, research etc. as well as time for the examinations. Teaching methods Various methods of teaching are employed, for instance: i. Teacher lectures ii. Classroom instruction iii. Project work iv. Individual and group based written work. Examinations, marking and final assessment The student can take examinations in all subjects at the levels G and D. The examinations can be written or oral. The Ministry composes all written examination assignments and appoints external examiners. Marks on a 7-point scale from -3 to 12 are given at the examinations. It is possible to complete an education programme with a General Preparatory Examination which entitles the student to have a right of access to the two-year higher preparatory examination courses. In that case the examination must include the following five subjects: Danish or Danish as a second language 2. English 3. Mathematics (all level d) 4. Science plus one of the subjects history, social science studies, german or french (at level G or higher). In all other cases the General Preparatory Examination must include five subjects: 1. Danish or Danish as a second language 2. English 3. Mathematics (all level D) and 4. Two more subjects as chosen by the student (at level G or higher). 7 7 Ibid. Page5

6 Student Guidance and Counselling The VUCs are obliged to provide guidance for the student and to ensure that they are offered individual and collective guidance concerning completion of the education programme. The student can also receive educational as well as vocational guidance. At all VUCs, there are counselling services. The guidance counsellor guides the student so that he or she can make the best possible entrance into VUC. The guidance counsellor advises the student on the subjects that are to be taken, on possibilities for subsequent education or on getting a job after the education programme. 3. Participation rate (These figures are approximate number of people participating in one course. For example: There are NOT 1 mio. Danish adults participating vocational training for skilled and unskilled workers, since many of them participate in more than one course.) 8 Formal AE: Danish for non-danish speakers: General Adult Education: Vocational training for skilled and unskilled workers: Non-formal AE: Study Associations/Evening classes: participants per year Danish University Extension: per year. Day High Schools: per year. Folk High Schools: per year 3. Topics (approximate figures as on 2009) Formal AE Vocational training is divided into a huge number of different topics. The most popular topics are: Trade, administration, communication and leadership: Basic industry: Transport: Building: Non-formal AE Participation in study associations/evening classes and University Extension lectures can be divided into these topics: Basic topics (reading, writing, arithmetic and languages): Health: Artisan: Culture: Creativity: Musical instruments: Personal development: retrieved on Page6

7 Communication: Others: The eight most popular main topics for participants in residential folk high schools are: 1. Athletics/sport 2. Art and creativity 3. Music, theatre, dance 4. Media, Society and politics 5. Language and literature 6. Preparation for formal education 7. Health, lifestyle and personal development 8. Nature and Science Financial support Students have a number of possibilities of getting financial support. The Danish State Educational Support for Adults (SVU) is directed at adults with little or no education at all. Another possibility is to apply for a grant or loan from the Danish State Education Support (SU).Unemployed people can study at VUC and still receive their unemployment benefits provided they are active job seekers 9. References: 1. eng.uvm.dk/education/adult-education-and-continuing-training/the-general-adult-education- Programme retrieved on eng.uvm.dk/~/media/uvm/filer/english/pdf/fact%20sheets/101221_the_general_adult_ed ucation_programme.pdf retrieved on retrieved on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/history_of_education_in_denmark retrieved on retrieved on Documents%20and%20Settings/Dr%20P%20Deb/My%20Documents/Downloads/4112_en.pdf retrieved on retrieved on retrieved on Page7