Today’s news / Nearly 7 in 10 foster kids miss final exams
Director of Børns Vilkår, Rasmus Kjeldahl, is worried that fewer and fewer foster children are passing their 9th grade exams. (Archive photo). Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

Nearly 7 in 10 foster kids miss final exams

A report from the child welfare organization Børns Vilkår, yet to be released, indicates that in 2023, approximately 67% of foster children did not complete their 9th grade final exams, marking the worst figure in seven years, reports Jyllands-Posten. In comparison, this was true for 12% of other children. The director of Børns Vilkår, Rasmus Kjeldahl, expressed serious concern about the negative trend despite political statements to address the issue. Factors contributing to this situation include frequent school and placement changes for foster children, with 78% having changed schools at least once, disrupting their education. Kjeldahl suggests that creating more ambitious educational plans and prioritizing successful schooling in foster care could be key steps toward improvement. He believes providing favorable conditions could enable foster children to perform as well as their peers in school.