The Efterskole is a unique Danish independent residential school where students from the ages of 14 to 18 can choose to spend one, two or three years to finish their primary education. Presently some 28.500 students attend one of the app. 260 schools throughout Denmark. The schools are open to students from abroad.

Common educational purpose

Each Efterskole is a self-governing independent institution and they all deal with both the educational and personal development of the students. They embrace a common educational focus on enlightenment for life, general education and democratic citizenship.

Freedom of the Efterskole

Compared to public schools the Efterskole has substantial freedom in terms of eg. choice of subjects, teaching methods and educational approach. These vary in accordance with the school’s political, religious or pedagogical orientation.
Freedom of the Efterskole is assured by substantial state subsidies to both schools and students.

History

The first “Efterskole”s were founded about 150 years ago. The schools were closely related to the Danish Folk High School

Folk high school

Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...

 and the educational ideas of N.F.S. Grundtvig (1789-1872) who wanted schools to provide enlightenment for life rather than formal vocational training.

External links

• The Danish Ministry of Education about "efterskoler"
• efterskoleforeningen.dk
• efterskole.dk/english
• efterskoletube.dk/?videoId=1283