Welfare Programs See 5% Decline in quota 2 applicants

The deadline for quota 2 applications to higher education has passed, showing a 4% increase in overall applicants, yet welfare-related professional education saw a 5% decrease. The education and research minister, Christina Egelund, acknowledges the pressing need for a comprehensive reform proposal aimed at reversing the downward trend in welfare education applications and is currently preparing the reform proposal, expected in spring. Vocational school applications are in focus, with a 13% drop in applications to train as a childcare worker and a 7% decline in social work education. In contrast, nursing education applications have risen by 4%, and STEM fields are up 12%. The reform will address why fewer individuals pursue these professions, with Egelund noting past restructuring efforts and the necessity of directing more students to institutions outside of the universities.