Education in Denmark
Education in Denmark is compulsory for children below 15 or 16. The school years up to the age of fifteen/sixteen are known as Folkeskole ("public school"). About 82% of young people take further education in addition to this. Government-funded education is usually free of charge and open to all. Denmark has a tradition of private schools and about 13% of all children at basic school level attend private schools.
The Education Index, published with the UNs Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Denmark as 0.993, amongst the highest in the world, tied for first with Australia, Finland and New Zealand.
The chief national officer of the education system is Education Minister Tina Nedergaard (Liberal Party). However, universities are the responsibility of Charlotte Sahl-Madsen, Minister of Science, Technology and Development (Conservative Party).
Literacy in Denmark is approximately 99% for both men and women.