In a rare occurrence: SF party leader attacks Social Democrats: “Embarrassing children and parents is unacceptable.”
According to TV2, the leader of the Danish Socialist Party (SF) launched a scathing attack on Mette Frederiksen for her criticism of children and parents. Read more after the advertisement.
The SF party leader returns to the political arena after her injury
According to TV2, the newspaper met with Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the Danish Socialists (SF), at her office in Kristiansborg, where she has begun a gradual return to work after fracturing a rib in a fall from a horse a month ago. Olsen Dyhr entered the political arena with a sharp attack on the Social Democrats, accusing the party of embarrassing children and their parents with a new concept introduced by the Minister for Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye, known as “PDO.”.
An attack on the PDO concept
According to TV2, Pia Olsen-Dehre's attack came after Mathias Tesfaye's remarks on a radio program on DR, where he used the term PDO to refer to some primary school students, interpreting it as "Pisse Dårligt Opdraget," meaning "extremely poorly raised." Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in an interview with Folkeskolen magazine, confirmed that she agreed some children suffer from poor upbringing, emphasizing the importance of teachers' authority and maintaining a balance between the child's needs and the classroom community.
SF's criticisms of the PDO concept
According to TV2, Pia Olsen-Dehre stated that the Social Democratic Party should not embarrass the child or the parent in this way, pointing to the shortage of teachers and educators in schools and care facilities to deal with children's behavioral problems. She added, "The solution is not to reprimand the child, but to find comprehensive solutions for society."“
Violence escalates in primary schools
According to TV2, a study by the Danish Teachers' Association revealed that 581,330 teachers have experienced an increase in violent incidents over the past five years, emphasizing that the problem of student behavior requires more resources and teachers, not just reprimanding children.
SF's Elementary School Funding Plan
According to TV2, the SF party has proposed distributing 15 billion kroner to all municipalities over four years to strengthen primary schools. This includes upgrading facilities, increasing teaching hours, enhancing school meal programs, establishing summer camps, and reducing large class sizes. An additional 3 billion kroner would be allocated to strengthen students' educational rights. The plan will be financed through a temporary deficit and an increase in the tax on high-income stocks from 421 TP3 tf to 491 TP3 tf.
The Minister of Education responded
According to TV2, Mattias Tesfaye confirmed in a written response to the channel that there should be a place for all children in primary schools, but not for all behaviors, stressing the importance of rules of order and cooperation between parents and students, while emphasizing that funding does not solve everything and that some behaviors need direct improvement from the students themselves.
political conflict
According to TV2, the SF's withdrawal from the 2022 primary school agreement before the elections led to political controversy. Experts point out that the current debate between the two parties shows a difference of opinion on solutions, as the Social Democrats focus on the role of parents, while the SF believes that the problem requires more resources and support for schools and teachers, stressing that the issue of primary education will be an important focus in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
