Icelandic Education System

Structured Course: “Structured Educational Visit to Schools/Institutes & Training Seminars in Iceland”

Icelandic Education System

A Brief Introduction

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Let's get started

Reykjavik is the only city in Iceland

That means that the educational system here is the `big brother‘ of others in Iceland and that can have advantages and also we can find negative aspects in that situation.

Reykjavik as a capital also has a bigger role within other systems like welfare and health and that also means that the schools in Reykjavik need to take a more broad vision than many others.

Icelandic School System

Icelandic School System

• Kindergartens (playschool) for children from 1 to 6 years old.
• Compulsory school for students between 6 and 16 years old.
• Upper secondary from 16 to 19 years (usually).
• Recent change to the system has lead to that period usually spanning 3 years instead of 4.
• Students usually go to university at 19.

Icelandic School System

• Kindergartens (playschool) for children from 1 to 6 years old.
• Compulsory school for students between 6 and 16 years old.
• Upper secondary from 16 to 19 years (usually).
• Recent change to the system has lead to that period usually spanning 3 years instead of 4.
• Students usually go to university at 19.

Preschools in Iceland

• 279 preschools in the country
• Preschool enrolment very high
• 51% of preschool staff without pedagogy (preschool teacher or grammar teacher) training.
• Low enrolment in preschool teacher education.
• Heavily subsidized by municipalities. (80%)
• Parents pay around 200 € a month for 8 hour stay.
• Most children attend preschools for around 8 hours a day.
• Pressure on preschool availability from end of maternity leave.
• Various pedagogies, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Hjalli, etc.

Compulsory Schools

• In Icelandic schools the most common setting is a 3-layered school:

• Level 1: consists of classes 1 – 4
• Level 2: consists of classes 5 – 7
• Level 3: consists of classes 8 - 10

Compulsory Schools

• Since 1977, standardised test have been held in Icelandic, English, Danish and mathematics in 10th grade.
• In 1995 they were also implemented in 4th and 7th grade.
• In 2009 the final standardised test was moved to 9th grade, and are not as ‘high stake’ as before. For example, upper secondary schools were not allowed to use grades from these tests for ranking applicants.

Compulsory Schools

• The Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture oversees the curriculum and publishes a National Curriculum Guide.
• Core subjects include Icelandic (grammar and literature), mathematics, foreign languages, natural science, social science, religious study, arts and crafts, and physical education, with compulsory swimming practice.
• The curriculum guide also contains recommendations pertaining to assessment, progression, and examinations.
• Teachers select their own methods of classroom assessment and may adopt preferred instructional methods.
• The school year runs for 170 days from early September through the end of May, with schools open 5 days per week.

Upper Secondary Schools

• 38 schools, 16 in the capital area and 22 in other parts of the island.

• 7 class-based and 31 course-based (general academic and vocational or specialised).

• 18 schools are purely academic, 8 are vocational and 12 are mixed.

Upper Secondary Schools

• The upper-secondary school curriculum is set forth by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture in the National Curriculum Guide.
• All courses leading to matriculation include Icelandic, foreign languages, social studies, mathematics, computer science, and physical education.
• Academic education further includes compulsory specialist subjects and student electives.
• Vocational courses of study consist of the general core subjects in addition to vocational theory and practice classes.

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