Religious Education in Danmark: Denmark
Upper Secondary Education
The 3-year 6th form college (Gymnasium)
A structural reform of the education system of the 16-19-year-olds (sixth form college level, gymnasium) and of the 2-year Higher Preparatory Examination Course (HF) was implemented in 2017 with a general focus on global and digital education, innovation, career competence and writing skills.
RE is a compulsory subject and taught in either the second or third year of the student's three-year program. The approach to RE is non-confessional and scientific. In RE, the students have to study the following compulsory subject areas: Christianity, Islam and one other major, global religion like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism or Sikhism – and central phenomena, terminology and methods of Religious Studies. There is a requirement for learning about a non-monotheistic religion. The teaching of Christianity is compulsory and constitutes at least one third of the curriculum. The teachers and students must choose one additional religion and also a minor subject, for instance ethics, philosophy of Religion, a subject in Religious Studies (e.g. rituals, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, new religious movements etc.) or one additional religion (it does not have to be one of the religions mentioned above).
RE is able to participate in interdisciplinary projects where a number of subjects work together in analyzing a specific topic, e.g. The Renaissance or The difference between Faith and Knowledge.
The teaching of RE is based on the study of a combination of normative texts, modern interpretations of these and other kinds of relevant materials. The reform launches an openness to an extended text concept using YouTube, Facebook websites etc. in the classroom. It is recommended to use materials in English or other foreign language as well.
An important aspect of RE is to provide academic tools and methods of religious studies in order to enable students to understand and interpret the religious texts seen from inside (emic) and outside (etic). The teaching is based on scientific approaches like comparative, phenomenological or sociological approaches.
RE ends with an oral exam the purpose of which is to test the students’ knowledge and understanding of particular religions taking as the starting point an analysis of a text and by applying the “tools of the trade”.
Students can also choose to study RE as an optional subject for another year at a higher level.
2-year Higher Preparatory Examination Course (HF)
Since the 2005 reforms, RE has been placed in the “the Culture and Social Science Group”, which also consists of the subjects History and Social Science. Most of the time the three subjects work closely together in at least four common projects. The subjects have only short periods of separate teaching. There is one joint examination at the end of the two-year program.
Examples of project titles: India Today; The Change From Nordic Religion to Christianity in Denmark; Religions Role in the Presidential Elections in the USA; Analysis of the Danish Society Today; Civil religion.
During the two years, the students have to study the following compulsory subject areas: Christianity, Islam, one additional religion, central phenomena, terminology and methods of religion, ethics and philosophy and the religions cultural, social and political influence in the past and today.
Some students can also choose to study RE as an optional subject at a higher level.
The 3-year 6th form college (Gymnasium)
A structural reform of the education system of the 16-19-year-olds (sixth form college level, gymnasium) and of the 2-year Higher Preparatory Examination Course (HF) was implemented in 2017 with a general focus on global and digital education, innovation, career competence and writing skills.
RE is a compulsory subject and taught in either the second or third year of the student's three-year program. The approach to RE is non-confessional and scientific. In RE, the students have to study the following compulsory subject areas: Christianity, Islam and one other major, global religion like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism or Sikhism – and central phenomena, terminology and methods of Religious Studies. There is a requirement for learning about a non-monotheistic religion. The teaching of Christianity is compulsory and constitutes at least one third of the curriculum. The teachers and students must choose one additional religion and also a minor subject, for instance ethics, philosophy of Religion, a subject in Religious Studies (e.g. rituals, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, new religious movements etc.) or one additional religion (it does not have to be one of the religions mentioned above).
RE is able to participate in interdisciplinary projects where a number of subjects work together in analyzing a specific topic, e.g. The Renaissance or The difference between Faith and Knowledge.
The teaching of RE is based on the study of a combination of normative texts, modern interpretations of these and other kinds of relevant materials. The reform launches an openness to an extended text concept using YouTube, Facebook websites etc. in the classroom. It is recommended to use materials in English or other foreign language as well.
An important aspect of RE is to provide academic tools and methods of religious studies in order to enable students to understand and interpret the religious texts seen from inside (emic) and outside (etic). The teaching is based on scientific approaches like comparative, phenomenological or sociological approaches.
RE ends with an oral exam the purpose of which is to test the students’ knowledge and understanding of particular religions taking as the starting point an analysis of a text and by applying the “tools of the trade”.
Students can also choose to study RE as an optional subject for another year at a higher level.
2-year Higher Preparatory Examination Course (HF)
Since the 2005 reforms, RE has been placed in the “the Culture and Social Science Group”, which also consists of the subjects History and Social Science. Most of the time the three subjects work closely together in at least four common projects. The subjects have only short periods of separate teaching. There is one joint examination at the end of the two-year program.
Examples of project titles: India Today; The Change From Nordic Religion to Christianity in Denmark; Religions Role in the Presidential Elections in the USA; Analysis of the Danish Society Today; Civil religion.
During the two years, the students have to study the following compulsory subject areas: Christianity, Islam, one additional religion, central phenomena, terminology and methods of religion, ethics and philosophy and the religions cultural, social and political influence in the past and today.
Some students can also choose to study RE as an optional subject at a higher level.
This report was written by Elisabeth Faber, the EFTRE representative for Denmark on behalf of the Danish RE teachers
September 2017
September 2017
