EDUCATION

 

The purpose of the Greenlandic system of education is to give young people an education forming a basis for their future working lives, contributing to their personal development and providing them with an understanding of society and its development.

 

When the Home Rule Government of Greenland assumed responsibility for the field of vocational training in 1981, politicians decided that all vocational training was to take place in Greenland as far as possible.

 

In the course of the 1980's a transfer of placements within all main lines of business has taken place. The trainee period and theoretical schooling now take place in Greenland.

 

There are vocational schools in Qaqortoq, Narsaq, Paamiut, Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat and a number of regional schools on the west coast.

 

Some educations are still only offered outside of Greenland. This holds true for a few vocational educations and for some further and higher educations.

 

In order to commence vocational training the trainee must secure an apprenticeship with a company. Most vocational training is organised as an alternation between practice in the context of the company and theoretical learning at the vocational school. Within the clerical and commercial sector, instruction takes place both at commercial schools and regional schools.

 

Furthermore a development has taken place within the context of courses as vocational schools to a growing extent provide supplementary training, both as single courses and as modular qualifying courses such as the mining and contracting education and alloriarneq (a continuing education for commercial and clerical workers).