On 1 January 2007, a structural reform of the municipalities in Denmark created a new regional map of the country. 14 counties were abolished and 5 regions created. 98 municipalities replaced the previous 273, and the larger and more sustainable municipalities have been given the responsibility to handle most of the citizen-related tasks. The main guidelines for delimitation - in terms of geography and tasks – were provided for in the agreement on a structural reform. With the purpose of ensuring more coherence in youth educations, the government took over responsibility from the counties regarding the upper secondary schools and the higher preparatory examination courses. The institutions have become official private property. To improve coherence within adult education, the government also took responsibility for the adult education centers (VUC), preparatory adult education (FVU) and general adult education (AVU), including education of dyslexics which have been separated from the special education for adults.
Following the reform, the educational structure in Denmark is the following:
The municipalities:
- Primary school, including special education and special education for adults
The regions:
- Operation of the most specialised national and regional education;
- Operation of educational institutions with special education for people with a speech, hearing or sight impairment (communication centres);
- Coordinating function in relation to youth educations and education for adults, including FVU and education for dyslexics.
The state:
- Establishment of goals for the contents of primary school education, including special education;
- Centres for teaching aids and materials;
- Youth educations;
- Further education, education for adults;
- Short and medium-term higher education;
- University education;
- Research
The official language in Denmark is Danish and this is also the teaching language in the educational system (besides in private schools and educational programmes taught in other languages).