Foreword

The Danish government wishes to encourage new growth and dynamics in society for the benefit of all. Welfare in Denmark must be ensured and expanded.

Therefore, our courses of education must be of top quality. In the future, education of a high international standard and quality will be the key to coping well in a more and more globalised world. Education is one of our most important competition parameters and a prerequisite for an increasing and well-qualified workforce with up-to-date skills.

The education sector must be based on the freedom of choice: human beings must come before the system.

However, high professional standards, quality, relevance and flexibility for all the users of the education system are not a matter of course. They require a continuous adaptation to new requirements, and improvements in areas where everything is not as it should be. There is a need for innovation.

The government is therefore presenting its action plan for Better Education in order to strengthen the proficiency and competence level in upper secondary education; in higher education; in adult and further education and continuing training. The action plan must be seen in close connection with the aims of the Folkeskole and with the government's other initiatives, including the growth strategy Determined Growth.

In the coming months and years, the government will launch a number of major reforms, in particular in the Gymnasium, the HF and the university areas. Within vocational education and training, there will be innovation of the commercial and technical programmes. In the adult education and in the further education and continuing training areas, there will among other things be a further development of the continuing training provision, and its connection with the vocational education and training area is to be strengthened. New vocationally-oriented adult education programmes are to be launched. The government will furthermore launch some major cross-cutting initiatives, among others in relation to improved educational and vocational guidance; a strengthening of the natural sciences throughout the entire education system; and an improved educational achievement in the different subjects by means of IT. Finally, the international element must be strengthened in all courses of education.

The government has great expectations when it comes to this wide range of reforms and initiatives. It is the aim to create challenges for all in our education system, also for the most gifted - for the benefit of all citizens in Denmark.

The Government
June 2002

This page is included in the publication "Better Education" as a foreword
© The Ministry of Education 2002