Copenhagen, February 27: The Pakistan Delegation concluded
a 4-day Study Visit to Copenhagen by focusing on the system
of local governance and democracy in Denmark. The day included
visiting a public school and interacting with teachers and
students, visit and interaction with Hvidovre municipality
mayor, interaction with an upcoming political party and understanding
the local government system.
While visiting the Engstrandskolen Public School at Hvidore,
the delegation was met and briefed by Mr. Thomas Pederson
Friis, Acting Deputy Head, who welcomed the delegation
and informed that 500 pupils study at this traditional Danish
school with a department for pupils with suffering from dyslexia.
During a discussion on the working of the school, Mr. Friis
said that the hiring for teachers is done in a corporate manner
and there is no concept of transfers in other regional schools.
The school management is also planning an experiment with
their students to start a radio and TV station, which will
also assist in Public Relation’s of school. He further
added the schools in Denmark can only hire trained teachers
but a debate is currently underway to introduce people with
certain expertise that are not trained teacher but a member
of teachers union. Teachers unions are very organized and
determine the employer/employee relationship. The Deputy Head
Master informed that a person has to train for 4 years to
be qualified teacher. They can continue to increase their
qualification and to develop subject expertise.
Later, the Delegation members interacted with Grade 8 Students
and discussed about the participation of youth in politics.
During the discussion students pointed out that MS Office
should be taught at an earlier age and should be part of curriculum.
It was pointed out till the 7th Grade different skills like
carpentry are also taught. The Danish pupils inquired about
the standard of education in Pakistan. Honourable Mr. Omar
Ayub Khan, MNA explained the students about the schooling
system in Pakistan. Mr. Friis added that students have a high
knowledge of democracy and the administration is working hard
to improve the competency level in students. He further stressed
on the fact that reforms are being introduced in school to
make children more movement oriented, as it improves health
and learning abilities. Discussion on the new school reforms
indicated that working hours of teachers have increased and
become inflexible. Previously the teachers had to turn up
just before their classes and prepare at home. Now they have
9-5 fix timing schedule and prepare at school. The teachers
feel they do not have appropriate facilities to prepare at
school, as the school does not provide working space to every
teacher.
In answer to a question by Honourable Mr. Omar Ayub Khan,
MNA, the Deputy Head Teacher said the average yearly raise
in income is 4.7% (around US$ 300) and teaching is one of
the well-paid professions. Danish schools are also introducing
comparative religion as a subject while there is no uniform
in the Danish Schools to allow students freedom of thought.
Except regular subjects Danish Schools have carpenters, music,
food technology, etc. as main line full credit subject. The
school has a part time psychologist and a family counselor
to assist the teachers with difficult children. The meeting
ended with a tour of the school area including common room,
play area, classrooms and library.
Later in the day, the delegation was received by Mr.
Kashif Ahmad, Party Leader 'National Party' and his
two brothers Mr. Amir Ahmad and Mr.
Asif Ahmad at the Municipality building. The Mayor
gave a welcome address to the delegation. During her welcome
address she mentioned that the Town Hall building was 60 years
old and was built in 1955. She pointed out the beautiful painting
in the counselors office was completed in 3 years by a famous
Danish artist and measured 70sq meter exactly the same size
as House of the Mayor. The painting has a symbolic value that
as how the beautiful city of Hvidovre developed.
The delegation was informed that all decisions of the city
are taken in the municipality. The political party of Mayor
is ‘Social Democrats’ and the Honourable Mayor
added that it would not make any difference with her funds
or working if the Party in the center is different from her
party. The Mayor proudly shared that the city was a village
around 90 years ago and today it is a developed and bustling
city turning into one of the closest suburban city of Copenhagen.
The Counsel has 21 members. She further informed that the
meetings of the Counsel is open and easily accessible to public
and can watch the proceedings from the public gallery.
The administration at the municipality has been divided into
sections like schools, hospitals, infrastructure, etc. The
Mayor has close interactions with the Government and especially
the Ministers. It is difficult for the Mayor to work if she
is not from the ruling party but even than it does not hinder
working of the Counsel. The funding stays exactly the same
even if the party in the Parliament is different than the
party in the counsel. The Mayor also has a duty to go out
and meet people to better understand the issues of the common
citizens. She has a special interest to look after the weak
and poor. The Mayor added that the municipality is quite popular
due to its proximity to Copenhagen and 1200 people are on
the waiting list to be accommodated for provision of a house.
All meetings of the Counselors are recorded on webcams and
can be watched by anybody on the Internet.
In a meeting with Mr. Kashif Ahmad, Mr.
Amir Ahmad and Mr. Asif Ahmad the
history and purpose of creation of the National Party was
discussed. In a candid discussion, they mentioned that the
National Party is a Social Center Party with the cause to
improve the image of Muslims in Denmark which has been on
a decline since the Danish Cartoon issue and Charlie Hebdo
event. They want to ensure that the concept of terrorism is
not associated with Islam. Denmark has 500,000 immigrants.
The minimum age to get your wife immigrated in to Denmark
is 24 years (this applies to anyone outside the EU). Denmark
has very strict laws for spouse visa with stringent requirements.
They suggested that the spouse visa laws are very discriminatory
violation of human rights. They acknowledged Denmark has excellent
democracy and has the world's best social welfare system.
In the evening, the Delegation members were briefed by Mr.
Holger Pyndt, Senior Consultant. Mr. Pyndt welcomed
the Delegation to the National Association of Municipality.
He started with a presentation on the general statistics of
Denmark. He mentioned 74.16% of workforce is occupied in the
service industry followed by industry 18.52% and remaining
2.14% in agriculture. The stronghold of Denmark are health
and medicine, energy related production, shipping and transportation
and IT services. The unemployment is very low and decreasing
even by European standards. Denmark has 98 municipalities
within 5 regions. The Danish Parliament has between 22-25
ministries. Denmark is success model due to high level of
efficiency. Two reforms took place in the history of Denmark
to reduce the number of municipality from 1400 to 98. A commission
was made under the Minister of Local Governments. In the second
reform it was decided that the municipality should not have
less than 20,000 inhabitants. It was also informed to the
delegation that Denmark is a very decentralized country with
a strong faith in devolution of power. In history the Parliamentarian
were unsatisfied with the performance of state services hence
they pursed the move towards localized services. Strong civil
society helped achieve these targets. The concept for decentralization
was to places services as close to the citizen as possible
i.e. with municipalities.
It was also informed to the delegation that 50% of total
finance with central government to the local governments (municipality).
29% is kept by the central government to meet its expanse
and invest in different projects. Where as 21 % is given to
the regions. In terms of spending the highest portion is spent
on children through schools and job center. Followed by looking
after the elderly people, administration, health, etc. Denmark
spends almost twice as much as UK on the sub-national expenditure.
Central Government is tasked with policy and regulation, economic
policy, foreign and security policy incl. defense, courts,
police, prisons, tax collection, custom authorities, postal
authorities, railways, national highways, higher education,
food control, etc. In Danish context inhabitants mean income
hence there is a drive to increase their size. Municipalities
are tasked with social welfare and preventive health (including
job centers), education and culture, environment, public utilities
and planning, public utilities. He also pointed out that unemployment
benefit is for 2 years. Every municipality has a 'One Stop
Shop' for all public administrative services. The Government
is conducting an experiment called “Free Municipality”
which are do not receive any funding from the center government
and they can replace the regulations of the center with their
own. Every municipality has a CEO under the Mayor who is a
civil servant. It was also pointed out that 30% of all councilors
are women though there is no quota. 90% of municipality's
staff are contract based and the remaining 10% are civil servants.
69% of the total budget is staff salaries. Danish municipalities
are funded by taxes, user payments, central Government funding's,
equalization and loans. Taxes include personal income tax
and land tax.
In the end of the fourth day of the Study Visit to Copenhagen,
Denmark an evaluation was carried out to discuss the learning
and experience of Delegation members during their stay in
Copenhagen.
The Pakistan Delegation on the Study Visit to Copenhagen
included Honourable Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA
(NA-222, Hyderabad, Sindh, PPPP), Chairman National Assembly
Standing Committee on Railways, Honourable Mr. Omar
Ayub Khan, MNA (NA-19, Haripur, KP, PML-N), Chairman
National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Mr.
Aqeel Ahmed Yousafzai, Youth Prime Minister, Mr.
Muhammad Shahzar Ilahi, Youth Leader of
the Opposition, Mr.
Sohaib Saeed, Chairperson Youth Parliament
Standing Committee on Economic and Finance Affairs, Mr.
Ali Shan Khan, Youth Shadow Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Syeda
Mizghan Mehboob Kirmani, Chairperson Youth
Parliament Standing Committee on Education & Youth Affairs
and Ms.
Rahy Farooq, Member Youth Parliament Standing
Committee on Education & Youth Affairs.
The Study Visit to Denmark is funded by DANIDA, the Royal
Danish Embassy, Islamabad and has been organized by the DFC
in Copenhagen.
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