The most striking general features of the Danish education system are these: a high degree of centralization, learner-centeredness, open access, precisely defined conditions of service for teachers, and virtually non-existent training for educational managers. Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 16 years. Optional preschool classes are available. At the upper secondary level, education traditionally prepares students for entry to higher education. The Danish vocational education system offers a far more integrated and coordinated national system than does the British. In addition to two- to four-year apprenticeship training, basic vocational education has a prerequisite of nine years of compulsory schooling and lasts between three and five years. Vocational education is organized into eight main fields. Each field involves two parts: a basic year and between two and four additional years. Most fundamental problems in establishing vocational training programs center on the mismatch between supply and demand. Other forms of vocational training include permanent programs for training semi-skilled workers and for retraining and upgrading skilled workers and special programs for prevocational training for young people, adult retraining, long-term unemployed adults, and migrant workers. A wide range of measures has been undertaken to combat youth unemployment. (YLB)