An agreement between parents and local authorities in Denmark’s northern Jutland region to keep schools open as a reward for producing more babies has encountered some troubles, with reports stating that the schools may still shut down.
Local officials promised parents that if they had more babies to eventually fill the schools to capacity, then the schools would not be shut down. But although the parents have kept their end of the deal, proven by the rising birthrate in the region, it appears the authorities are failing to hold up their part.
Thisted Council agreed with parents last November that education institutions in the municipality four remain open over the course of the coming four to five years if they got beneath the sheets and made more babies.
According to a local hospital, which said that the number of pregnancies has risen by a third since the deal was struck, the parents have kept their end of the bargain.
But now parents could be in for a shock because the Danish People’s Party has stated that it no longer supports the plan at a time when there is a heated debate in parliament about the rising number of asylum seekers in the area.
Social Democratic spokeswoman Ulla Vestergaard described the situation as “really disappointing”, noting that residents had been “passionate and committed” to ensuring the future of the schools but were now being completely burnt. She added that no one had any idea what would happen now.