Last Week in Denmark (11.02-18.02) Episode 5 Year 4
Homeschooling; Mother tongue teaching; Bullying
Editor HQ
State of Denmark
“Going to school is not a human right” (Denmark’s Minister of Education)
A group of children have allegedly bullied others at Borup Skole, creating a political storm in which several political parties want to make it easier to expel violent students. Today, schools can suspend a student for a maximum of seven days, move them to another class, or attempt to change their school. In the Education Minister’s view, violent students don’t have the right to continue at the same school where the episode happened. However, he is not inclined to rush into making law proposals, at first, he wants to properly investigate the situation.
While going to school might not be a human right in the eyes of the minister, it is a constitutional right, according to the president of the Skolelederforeningen (Association of School Leaders). The state is constitutionally obliged to provide free basic education, so in the case of an expulsion, an alternative school must be made available, which might prove more difficult than envisioned.
Bullying is unfortunately a part of school life in Denmark, and for our children, it could also span xenophobia and racism. If faced with such a situation, do not be quiet about it. While each school is technically autonomous, you can always scale up the situation to the municipality level, just as happened at Borup Skole.
In more positive news, MAERSK launched their first green ship using waste-based methanol as fuel. The company has ordered another 25 similar ships. However, there is still a long way to go before the company replaces all 700 ships that run on diesel and other fossil fuels.
Thank you for reading and spreading the word about Last Week in Denmark! For more content, be sure to check our LinkedIn page :) And for those living in Copenhagen, see you on February 22nd at the Food for Thought storytelling session! If not at the event, then afterwards for drinks.
Word of the Week
Grundloven = Constitution. The root of democracy in Denmark. We celebrate it every June 5 on “Grundlovsdag.” Unfortunately, it is not a national holiday, but people tend to take time off from work to celebrate it by gathering in parks to listen to speeches about democracy.
Quiz
Danish Politics HQ
Weekly political overview
Should we have bilingual signs in municipalities with a significant minority presence? The German minority in Tønder would surely love that. However, despite the mayor hailing from their political party (the Schleswig Party), the last time the subject came up, a complete “ballade,” as the Danes would say, ignited. It’s clearly a touchy subject, and the mayor is not willing to reopen Pandora’s box. Across the German border, the Danish minority has managed to put Danish names on yet another municipality’s signs.
Gambling is next likely to fall under the ban hammer. Several political parties are proposing a ban on advertising for such activities, a firewall block of gambling sites in schools, and an end to gacha-style loot boxes, which you can buy with money in the hope of getting more money. Almost half a million people in Denmark have a gambling addiction.
The government wants to change the organ donation policy from “opt-in” to “opt-out”, which means that from the moment the legislation is passed, we are all organ donors until you say otherwise. There are 442 people waiting for an organ transplant. Only four European states will then remain with an “opt-in” policy for organ donation (Germany, Romania, Lithuania, and Ireland).
Focus
The Nye Borgerlige drama is far from over: We thought we had one less far-right party in Denmark. Their founder, Pernille Vermund, believed it was over when she closed the door and moved towards a brighter (less hateful) future with Liberal Alliance, and the former “blue” parties rejoiced over having one less competitor for the same votes. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the Nye Borgerlige voters: the return of one of their members of Parliament, Peter Seier Christensen, who had been on sick leave for more than a year.
There is a lot of pressure on Seier Christensen. The former “blue” parties want him to become an independent or join one of them, while his party colleagues want him to return as the party leader or resign his mandate to Henriette Ergemann (anti-vaccination activist), in hopes of giving the party a future.
New collective agreement for state civil servants: The headlines? 5.9% salary increase from April this year and another 1.7% increase from 2025, three weeks extra of parental leave (barsel), and the possibility to save up 15 days of vacation for later use. This affects nearly 200,000 state civil servants in Denmark (police officers, military officers, gymnasium teachers, civil servants in ministries and national agencies, etc.)
The collective agreements are negotiated between trade unions and employer associations. Be aware that associations like Krifa, Det Faglige Hus, ASE, FRIE, and Business Denmark are not recognized as trade unions and cannot participate in the negotiations for the collective agreements.
Danish Economics HQ
850 million DKK to the Andel energy company shareholders in Zealand: 400,000 people from the area of Zealand that is serviced by Cerius can claim 2,500 DKK from this website. It seems that if you have a home, holiday house, or business in the so-called “Cerius” area of Zealand, you are a shareholder of the energy company Andel. As the name implies, the company is organized as a cooperative. You have until the end of May to make your claim.
Private sector salaries increased by 4.9% 2023: Considering the low inflation we ended the year with, this is a real wage increase of 4%, which means people can afford more than last year. This is the highest real wage increase in the past 15 years.
After a couple of difficult years, cryptocurrency is back: The value of one bitcoin has reached 360,000 DKK, marking an increase of 22% just this month - a spectacular recovery, considering that the January 2023 Bitcoin value was 117,000 DKK. We are not yet at the 2021 valuation of 400,000 DKK, but considering the current trend, it should soon surpass that. Before investing, keep in mind that cryptocurrency is highly volatile, and while you can easily become rich, you can just as easily burn all your savings.
To get a child psychiatrist appointment more quickly, parents are moving their children onto health insurance group 2: You might wonder, what is “health insurance group 2?” Well, while most of us are in “health insurance group 1,” which means we are under the care of the public health system, there are some of us who prefer to pay the difference and be part of the private health system. Why are parents moving their children? Psychiatric evaluation waiting times of almost a year push them to choose the private system.
You can change your yellow card / health insurance group on borger.dk.
The Dutch Safety Authority recommends you stop using your Babboe cargo bike until further notice: Sales of the bike have been stopped in the Netherlands and several models have already been recalled. The company has also decided to temporarily stop sales in Denmark, as well. Why? Suspicions of serious safety risks to children.
Entrepreneur’s corner
There are still open spots for the course in English on how to bookkeep, invoice, report VAT, and understand if your business is making money. Sign up here. When? Saturdays from 10 to 13, starting March 9 - April 6.
Crossing Borders, an NGO from Copenhagen, is organizing a 2-day free business bootcamp aimed at international entrepreneurs on March 12-13. You can sign up here. Read more about it.
If you are generally interested in entrepreneurship and live near Aalborg, you should consider the organization Kickstart Aalborg. They even have their own business podcast in English.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Insights into the Danish way of life
It has been two months since winter started, and this might be the most challenging moment of the year for everyone. It has been a long time since autumn, but it is not quite close to getting sunny yet. In the midst of the gloomy weather, it might be the right time to join one of Denmark’s favorite winter traditions: winter bathing (vinterbadning), or the art of swimming in freezing cold water.
The practice comes from way back in the day: Scandinavians knew they needed to make peace with their hostile weather, so they incorporated this practice as a way of joining forces with nature. During the 19th century, a focus on its health impact took hold, as winterbathing is known as a powerhouse for the immune system. Some of its proven benefits include improving blood circulation and releasing endorphins, (which help combat the winter blues). With the hippie ‘70s, the activity gained even more popularity as a ritual between the body and mother earth, a notion that stands to this day.
If anything, winter bathing sits at the center of hygge – although a different type of cozy, not so related to candles and fireplaces, but rather warms hearts and fosters a feeling of community. For many Danes, this is the one outdoor plan they can keep meeting their friends for, no matter the weather. Studies demonstrate that, although unintuitive, our bodies react happily to this sport. We become less stressed, less fatigued, and contract significantly fewer respiratory diseases when we winterbathe. This is, of course, if we take precautions to do it right. For us internationals, it is also an opportunity to bond with locals (beware: random Danes might actually approach you!), and quite literally dive into the culture for the sake of surviving the winter.
Explainer
Homeschooling, a choice for parents in Denmark: According to the Constitution (Grundloven), we have compulsory education, but not compulsory schooling, meaning that the parents can provide education at home. We have written before that many German families are moving here exactly because of this opportunity. There are more than 1,500 homeschooled children in Denmark.
The parents can either directly teach their children or hire tutors (face-to-face or online). Every other subject besides Danish can be taught in the native language. There are no specific qualifications required for the parents or tutors, and there is freedom of teaching method. To be able to homeschool your child, you need to inform the municipality (kommune) first, because they are responsible for the bi-yearly supervision (tilsyn) to ensure that the education lives up to the standards. It is mandatory to teach Danish, English, math, science, and social studies.
There is no financial support for homeschooling. Despite being something similar to a “friskole,” the money does not follow the child in this situation. Also, after 9th grade, the students will be able to continue in the organized education system. If you want to know more, read the FAQ. If you want to speak with others who already do it, check out these Facebook groups.
Weekly overview
Divorce rates are declining while marriages are slowly increasing compared to the previous decade, Statistics Denmark reported. Last year, Denmark saw 12,862 divorces among married couples, marking a stagnant trend over the past three years and a notable 17% decrease compared to the previous decade. Data revealed that nearly 50% of divorces occurred within the first decade of marriage, while 11% took place after 25 years of marriage. Despite a 4% dip in weddings from 2022 to 2023, the long range shows a 5% marriage increase relative to the previous decade.
A proposal to implement gender-neutral toilets at municipal buildings gets the green light at Aalborg municipality, TV2 reported. The proposal, brought forward by the municipality’s diversity committee, intends to accommodate those who do not identify with any gender, to ensure everyone feels safe at their workplace. If the proposal is implemented, all municipal buildings and major renovation projects will need to have gender-neutral toilets.
If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, you might be part of the 21% of people in Denmark who suffer from fatigue, or the 15% who have sleeping problems, the latest National Health Profile report revealed. But several experts have shared tips to overcome this, with TV2 . Besides avoiding screens in the bedroom, getting proper light exposure, and being physically active, a cognitive behavioral therapy technique known as “sleep restriction” is also recommended, especially for those suffering from insomnia. Backed by an expert from Aarhus University, the method emphasizes going to bed only when you are exhausted so that you fall asleep faster. Over time, this method is meant to help you go to bed earlier as you try to maintain a regular sleep schedule.
Three out of five images nominated for the Danish Press Photo of the Year 2023 focus on climate change, DR reported. From a suffocating seabed in Køge Bay to only the roof of a house visible after a deadly storm and massive flood in Roneklint, these striking visuals depict various aspects of the impact of climate change. A jury panel will announce the winner on March 1. To view the images, click here.
Internationals in Denmark
A new association has been founded by Turkish expats in Denmark under the name TEID (Turkish Expats In Denmark). The association aims to promote cooperation between Turks living in Denmark by helping new Turkish immigrants find their footing in Denmark.
European Union HQ
Europe This Week
Alexander Stubb will be Finland's next president. Stubb, who has also served as Finland's foreign, finance, and European affairs minister, is the center-right candidate of the National Coalition Party and received 51.6% of the votes. Foreign and security policy are at the top of Stubb’s agenda, including maintaining a hard line toward Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Hungary’s first female president, Katalin Novak, steps down. She resigned after mounting criticism for pardoning a man convicted of covering up sex abuse at an orphanage. Hungarian presidents, elected for five-year terms, hold a predominantly ceremonial role, but they still have some power as they can kick back laws to the parliament for a second look or send them to a constitutional court.
Shortly after Novak’s resignation, Judit Verga announced her withdrawal from public politics. She had also signed the controversial pardon while serving as Hungary's Minister of Justice. Verga is a member of parliament and the leading candidate for the European Parliament elections. Both politicians are Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's strongest allies.
Climate change and the lack of drinking water. Record-high temperatures and below-average rainfall driven by climate change in Spain have led to a lack of drinking water. Since last year, residents of the small town of Pozoblanco in Andalucía have had to get their water from tankers, as the tap water was declared unfit for human consumption.
Rights
According to EU Directive 77/486, Denmark is obliged to provide mother tongue education to children from EU/EEA member states: In practice, it means that the municipalities (kommune) have to provide this opportunity, if a minimum of 12 children (age 6 - 15) with the same mother tongue from the same municipality ask for it. Does it replace Danish education? No. It is a supplementary class after hours or on weekends. How do I get it? Call your municipality about “Modersmålsundervisning” or ask at your children’s school. If they don’t know what it is, inform them about their obligation.
Opportunities
There are 959 EU-funded volunteering opportunities, of which at least one hundred are outside of the European Union. If you are between the ages of 18 - 30 and an EU resident, you can join the European Solidarity Corps and discover the world, with travel and accommodation provided by the European Union.
Announcement Board
Esbjerg, February 22, 17.00-19.30: Third Culture Kids Seminar – Challenges and advantages for kids and teens growing up outside their home country culture, or kids and teens with a foot in two different cultures. Sign up ahead.
Aarhus, February 23, 10:00-12:00: Coffee Morning February – Meet new people, ask questions of the speakers. Register here.
Odense, February 23, 17:30-00:00: International Night 2024 – An international party and a highlight of the year. There will be dinner with Danish specialties, stand-up comedy, dancing, music, and networking. Get your tickets here.
Viby, February 24, 10:00-11:30: Fun Day: Fastelavn – A monthly event for families so parents and children can get to meet and socialize. This time, the theme is Fastelavn. Sign up here.
Copenhagen, February 26, 17:00-19:30: Danish Workplace Culture – This informative and workshop-based event will provide you with an understanding of the unique Danish workplace culture. Don’t forget to sign-up.
Last Week in Denmark’s Universe
Read long-form articles on our website: How to learn Danish; Danish Business Culture; How to invest in Denmark; Guides for non-Europeans - I and II; How to negotiate your salary; Giving birth in Denmark - I and II; Pension in Denmark - I and II; Translator in Denmark and many other untold stories from the community.
Read the newsletter in another language: Romanian, Polish, Spanish, Italian and Turkish.
Check out our cool merchandise (top quality): Moving forward; Searching for home; Vasil; Irina; Kifaax; Monika
Join us on social media for exclusive content: Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram
News from the volunteer team: We have established a Partnerships Team led by Sara Nandin de Carvalho with Charlotte Rintala, Ieva Nekyte and Jess Maria Dwyer as part of the team. Their role will be to bring our newsletter to companies intranets and kantine’s around the country.
I miss the podcast episodes:)