Interview with Politiken in today’s newspaper
I believe the care crisis for children and young people in Denmark has reached alarming heights due to years of underfunding and devaluation of the area.
The Covid crisis triggered an acute effort, and the directly identifiable COVID-19-related expenses amounted to DKK 119.8 billion in the period Q1 2020 up to and including Q1 2022 (https://www.dst.dk).
Denmark’s raw material is our children and young people, who are to drive tomorrow’s society. If up to 20% of these children and young people are struggling (with and without autism and ADHD and stress reactions such as stress, anxiety, and depression), then we are pushing the burden and the crisis onto future generations!
Let’s spend the next 10 years on a colossal effort and rectify all the failures – even if it costs 3 Storebæltsbroer, 1 covid crisis, or a 5% increased allocation to Folkeskolen over the next 10 years!
Then there will be room in Folkeskolen for all children – the neurotypical, the specially talented, the neurodivergent, the happy, the sad, wonderful after-school care, lovely animals, and proper learning communities.
Oh yes – perhaps also better education and salaries for the people who are to ensure the implementation of the investment, teachers and educators, the heroes of everyday life.
Denmark’s raw material is being thrown under the bus in a fight over allocations, where they should be the most important parties in all budget agreements.
