A new education plan for 2026 aims to encourage more people to start, complete, and continue their education—but the challenges remain significant.
Too few students make it all the way through the education system. This is the central theme of the Government of Greenland’s new Education Plan 2026, which aims to strengthen everything from elementary school to higher education and adult education.
The plan highlights major challenges: Too many young people do not continue their education after elementary school, many students drop out after high school, and there remains a shortage of internships, student housing, and qualified teachers—especially outside major cities.
At the same time, the report reveals clear differences based on gender and geography. More women than men complete their education, and opportunities vary significantly between municipalities and residential areas.
– According to the plan, higher levels of education are essential for the sustainability of society, but the field is characterized by geographical and gender disparities.
We need to improve public schools
One of the main areas of focus in 2026 will be the public school system, where the Government of Greenland will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of instruction, organizational structure, and requirements for tests and exams.
Mathematics is a particular focus because, according to the plan, students’ academic performance has been declining for several years.
In addition, an increase in distance learning is intended to ensure that children across the country have access to instruction from qualified teachers—including in smaller communities, where the teacher shortage is most acute.
At the same time, the Government of Greenland will strengthen its efforts to support children with special needs and dyslexia through earlier screening and more targeted support.
More young people need to continue their education after elementary school
The report shows that many young people still do not go on to pursue a secondary education after elementary school.
For this reason, the Government of Greenland intends to strengthen career guidance for young people, create more apprenticeships, and develop special introductory courses for young people aged 15 to 17 at vocational schools.
At the same time, vocational education and training programs must be modernized so that they better meet the needs of the labor market.
The plan also provides for more opportunities for adults and working people.
A key initiative will be the development of more decentralized education, so that more people can study from home through a combination of distance learning and shorter courses.
