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Why does free college work in Denmark but will fail if implemented in America? (piefed.social)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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[–] 0 points 4 months ago* (1 child)

Mainly Danish, Swiss and European citizens are eligible to study without stressing over student debt

Yet only 47% have a college degree. It's better than the US at 38% but then that figure is an average over the entire country. For example Poland in the EU is at 28% while DC in the US is at 65%.

I suspect that it's a difference in presentation. In the US college is free for anyone with high grades because of scholarships. In Denmark school is free for anyone with high grades. If you don't have high grades, you aren't allowed to go to college in Denmark.

EU schools separate kids out at an earlier age into Trade and College. Whereas the US sells the idea that everyone should try and go to college. So kids take on debt to go to college when they shouldn't have ever gone. If they had been in the EU, they would have never been presented with the idea of college- they would have been forced into trades like manufacturing and repair.

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  • [–] 3 points 4 months ago*

    yep. people don't really want to acknowledge that in the german/danish systems, and often schools in asia, if you aren't a top student you aren't getting a higher education, it's completely barred from you.

    and a lot of the same economic issues persist... most top students come from rich families... just like in the USA.

    there is more opportunity for a poor kid to go to college for free/low cost in the USA. but they are a minority of students, and a lot of people HATE and resent them for that. especially the mediocre students from wealthy families.

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