The rise in student absenteeism in Danish primary schools may be linked to violence and a deteriorating school environment, according to Conservative spokesperson Lise Bertelsen. She is advocating for an investigation into this potential connection, highlighting the fear witnessed in schoolchildren’s eyes during violent incidents.

Bertelsen, a member of Parliament since 2022 and with 25 years of experience as a special education teacher in child psychiatry, believes the “harsh environment” in schools is a significant factor contributing to the increasing number of children with long-term absence, which affects over 110,000 students.

Research Director Andreas Rasch-Christensen from VIA UC supports the idea of investigating the link between violence and absence. He acknowledges that a collapsing learning environment and exposure to violence can deter children from attending school, even those not directly involved in the incidents.

The number of students with high absence has risen significantly between 2015 and 2024, from 73,314 to 110,966. There are significant municipal differences, Hørsholm records 31.5 percent of students with more than ten percent absence per year, while Lyngby-Taarbæk reports 16.9 percent.

Despite the increasing problem, the government has not supported the Conservative party’s proposal for a national action plan and an investigation but has made a report. Bertelsen criticizes this approach, accusing the government of delaying action on a critical issue. She hopes to include the connection with absence in the investigation within the Children and Education Committee.