The Danish education system has its root in the cathedral. The Roman Catholic Church has found schools in Denmark in medieval period. Schools founded by Roman Catholic Church in the 12th and 13th centuries still exist in Denmark. The education reform came into force in 1536 and schools were taken under control of Crown. Theological studies were main part of school curricula. The students were taught reading, writing and speaking of Latin and Greek.

The education system in started making changes in 1809 when the old Clergyman's School was altered in agreement with the spirit of the time into a humanistic Civil Servant's School which was to "foster true humanity" through fascination in the ancient Greek and Latin cultures pooled with some teaching of natural science and modern languages.

In 19th century, the education system in Denmark was mainly divided into two streams- the language and the mathematics, this became possible as major scientific and technological developments started taking place in 1871 and afterward. This division formed the backbone of the structure of the Gymnasium. English, German and French languages become part of teaching curricula in 1903, the Greek and Latin languages were replaced. The three year course of the Gymnasium was directly connected to the municipal school through the establishment of middle school (grades 6 to 9) and later replaced by the Realskole.

At present the education in Denmark is divided into following categories-

Pre-School Education - Pre school education is the start of schooling for Danish children. Danish children join pre schools before starting necessary elementary education.

Folkeskole Education - The Folkeskole education in Denmark covers whole elementary education. In other nations the education equivalent to Folkeskole is generally divided into primary education and secondary education.

Highschool Education - The High School Education (Upper Secondary Education) in Denmark is divided into four categories- a) 3 year Gymnasium, b) 2 year Higher Preparatory Examination (HF), c) 3 year Higher Commercial Examination Program (HHX), d) 3 year Higher Technical Examination Program (HTX).

A brief about education system in Denmark is mentioned here.

Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 7
Age of exit: 16

Structure of school system:

Basic

Type of school providing this education: Folkeskole, Private grundskoler (state subsidized private schools) and at the Class 8 to 10 levels, Efterskoler (continuation schools)

Length of program in years: 9

Age level from: 7 to: 16

Certificate/diploma awarded: Folkeskolens Afgangsprøve (Leaving Examination after Class 9 or 10) or (only after Class 10) Folkeskolens 10 -klasse prøve (Class 10 examination)

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gymnasium (3 years), Studenterkursus, HF, VUC (Adult Education Centres)

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 16 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseksamen-HF (higher preparatory examination)
Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Erhvervsskole (Handelsskole or Teknisk Skole)

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 16 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Højere Handelseksamen - HHX (Higher Commercial examination) or Højere Teknisk Eksamen - HTX (Higher Technical examination)
Vocational

Type of school providing this education: Erhvervsskole (Handelsskole, Teknisk Skole, Social-og sundhedsskole, Landbrugsskole & other specialized schools)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 16 to: 20

Certificate/diploma awarded: Uddannelsesbevis or Svendebrev (study varies between 2 and 5 years)

The students who successfully complete secondary education or equivalent opt for higher university education.

Lets' see what UNESCO an Apex Body on Education says about education and literacy in Denmark, Click Here.