Reform of the Danish Upper Secondary Academically Orientated Programmes

In May 2003 the Danish Parliament came to an agreement about a reform of all types of upper secondary academically orientated programs: Stx, hhx, htx and hf.

The first students under the new reform were enrolled in August 2005.

The goals and principles are:

• Strengthening of students’ knowledge, proficiency and competencies
• Solidifying students’ competencies in relation to higher education
• Increased focus on natural sciences
• Boosting cooperation among teachers in different subjects
• Update of cultural and general educational concepts (common frame of reference)
• Four programmes with clearly different profiles
• Flexibility and different profiles at the same time – better coordination between the four programmes

The principal concrete instruments towards change are:

• Shared basic structures: basic course (½ year) and specialized studies (2½ years). Hf, as a “second chance” option, still has a special structure
• Enhancing cooperation among teachers and subjects through introduction of formalized timeframes to be used for joint teaching processes
• Clearer objectives for teaching and students’ competencies - rather than specific requirements as to content
• New forms of testing and examination, including project based forms
• New work methods aiming at activation of students
• Tightening up of regulations on students’ active participation in class

The four upper secondary programs share the same basic focus – preparation for tertiary education - but they have different types of core curricula. Stx and hf share a broad based curricula across faculties whereas hhx focus on social science subjects and languages and the htx on natural sciences and technology.

Admission to upper secondary programs presuppose sitting for required school leaving examinations in Folkeskolen and depend on the schools decision as to whether or not to recommend the student to sitfor entrance examination.

Both stx, hhx, htx and hf are run by self governing colleges financed by government via “taxameter”grants pr. Capita.