A school everyone can afford
Parents' finances must not exclude anyone from participating on an equal foot-ing in the school's academic and social communities. It’s positive that the gov-ernment is focusing on the problem, but many actors can and should contribute to ensuring that all children can participate. This also applies to the Egmont Foundation, which with this magazine focuses on the consequences of parental expenses for students.
In Denmark, sending your child to public school (folkeskolen) is, in principle, free of charge. Free and equal access to public school education is one of the cornerstones of the welfare state. Yes, it is directly stated in the Danish Constitution.
However, many parents experience that their child's schooling is far from free in practice. There are expenses for class funds, school meals, school photos and events at the school. And when the class goes on a trip or school camp, they often have to pay for meals and perhaps also provide pocket money. In addition, there are the activities that the parents of the class themselves arrange outside school hours: birthdays, class parties, group trips ...
Particularly in families whose budgets are already stretched, parental expenses in and around school risk having negative consequences for the child. Because even though some of these expenses are voluntary in theory, both pupils and parents experience them as essential for taking part in the class community.
We know this because we have gathered new insights into parental expenses in Danish public schools and their impact on pupils. Our research is summarised in this edition of Egmont Indsigt – produced in partnership with organisations including Skole og Forældre (National parent organisation), Danske Skoleelever (Danish public school pupils), Red Barnet (Save the Children Denmark), Mødrehjælpen (Social-humanitarian organisation for vulnerable families) og Odense Kommune (Municipality of Odense) – and reveals, among other things:
That children from financially disadvantaged families find themselves having to opt out of activities, feel excluded from the community, and find it uncomfortable to ask their parents for money when school-related expenses arise.
That more than half of parents living in poverty find that expenses in and around public school strain their household finances.
That one in four parents in this group assesses that their child feels excluded from the class community because of expenses in and around school.
A shared responsibility
It is positive that the government has stated in its government platform that it wants to put an end to the fact that particularly vulnerable families experience demands for self-payment in the public school. The new studies confirm that we have a problem which needs to be solved.
Together with Skole og Forældre (National parent organisation), Danske Skoleelever (Danish public school pupils), Red Barnet (Save the Children Denmark), Mødrehjælpen(social-humanitarian organisation for vulnerable families) og Odense Kommune(Municipality of Odense) we therefore present these recommendations to decision-makers, municipalities, and schools:
Listen to the children! They want to be part of the community, regardless of their family's financial situation. This should serve as a guiding principle for everyone making decisions about public schools: from Parliament (Christiansborg) to parent meetings.
View the community as a whole: Consideration must also be given to expenses for after-school care (SFO), youth clubs, and after-school activities. Every child must be able to participate so friendships can be formed and maintained.
Take political responsibility for ensuring everyone can participate: Rules and guidelines must be clearly communicated to everyone in and around the school – to municipalities, school leaders, teachers, pedagogues, and parents.
Be clear about voluntary expenses: Class funds, school photos, and other costs can feel like an entry ticket to the community. Ensure they are genuinely voluntary so families on tight budgets do not feel pressured.
Raise awareness of financial barriers: Foster dialogue at school and among parents about how finances can be a barrier. Choose activities in which everyone can take part. And communicate expenses directly to parents – because children should not have to act as messengers between school and home.
At the Egmont Foundation, we want to do what we can—partly by placing and keeping this issue on the agenda, and partly by continuing the foundation’s century-long tradition of supporting children and young people living in poverty. Today, we carry out this mission alongside strong partner organisations through initiatives such as the programme En Håndsrækning (A Helping Hand), for which DKK 52 million has been allocated for the 2026–2029 period – including support for a range of school-related expenses.
Creating a school system that everyone can afford is a task no one can solve alone, but one where many can contribute. As the councilman for Children and Youth in Odense Municipality states in Egmont Indsigt:
”We are well aware that our initiatives will not eliminate social inequality in childhood; that largely requires a comprehensive national effort across multiple areas. But as a municipality, we cannot just sit back and do nothing. We cannot let children be left out of the daily school community by claiming it is a national task. After all, the children bear no blame whatsoever for their situation.”
Enjoy Reading!
Heidi Sørensen, Director Egmont’s Grant Administration