Danish Students Protest Planned Education Cuts in Copenhagen

Denmark plans to cut student allowances for thousands of young people. The proposal could affect international and local families living in Copenhagen. Thousands of students marched in Copenhagen on Wednesday to protest the plan.

Eleven student groups organized the peaceful march to the Danish parliament. Organizers said twelve thousand to thirteen thousand people joined the Copenhagen demonstration. Nationwide, forty thousand students went on strike across fifty-seven schools. Protesters chanted slogans and carried signs calling to save the allowance.

Under the draft budget, Denmark would abolish the grant for certain living arrangements. Students living with parents earning over 700,000 Danish kroner yearly would lose support. Grants would drop for parents earning between 419,589 and 700,000 Danish kroner. Currently, living at home yields 1,154 Danish kroner monthly. Students living alone receive 7,426 Danish kroner each month.

The ministry expects 14,000 students to lose their monthly stipend entirely. Another 8,000 students will see their monthly payments reduced under the plan. The government also wants stricter work rules for graduate unemployment benefits. Graduates must work 18 of their last 24 study months to qualify. This news comes from reporting by The Local.