EDUCATION IN ICELAND

EXPANDING EQUALITY IN EDUCATION

To whom it may concern:

As a principal at an elementary school in Iceland, it is an honor for me to report the success we

as a country have had over the past centuries within our education system. This nation has had
many distinguished and fulfilling accomplishments that have generated a strong and educated
community. Best of all, they go above and beyond the three main principles that the United
Nations has set: put every child in school, improve the quality of learning, and to foster a global
citizenship (Global Education First Initiative).

According to, The Big Picture: Education Icelands literacy-rate has been completely universal
ever since the end of the eighteenth century. Thus, meeting the very first initiative of the United
Nations which is to put every child in school. Furthermore, the education in Iceland is
mandatory for children ages 6 to 16 years and as a bonus there is no tuition to receive an
education. That even includes higher education such as, universities, with the exception of
private schools. Therefore, education has been accessible to every individual in the country.

This chart demonstrates how Iceland is one of the top nations in how much money
they invest in the education system. EduSkills OECD Follow. (2012). Education at a
Glance 2012 - Key findings. Retrieved November 08, 2016, from
http://www.slideshare.net/OECDEDU/ducation-at-a-glance-2012-key-findings

Now, it is also important to take into consideration the weaknesses of this nation. There have
been very high dropout rates in Iceland primarily with high school students and teachers have
also faced obstacles that effect their quality of teaching. Though this is a negative fact, Iceland
has viewed this area of growth as a strength since it has been developing many possible solutions
to this problem. For example, Iceland has worked towards improving dropout rates through the
creation of reforms. As noted in Better Policies for Better Lives, These include reform in
teacher education, compulsory and upper secondary education and the development of a new
national curriculum and a national qualifications framework. Additionally, Iceland also highly
invests in their education system as a very high percentage of its GDP is completely devoted to
education. Other solutions that have been put into practice are social partners encouraging
students to believe education is important. Finally, all these factors demonstrate how the country

can reach the second initiative of the UN in which they are constantly seeking ways to improve
the quality of learning (OECD).

This chart demonstrates the level of education people receive in different

countries. EduSkills OECD Follow. (2012). Education at a Glance 2012 - Key
findings. Retrieved November 08, 2016, from
http://www.slideshare.net/OECDEDU/ducation-at-a-glance-2012-key-findings

Lastly, in Iceland we meet the last initiative of the UN of fostering a global citizenship by
making it our top priority that everyone has equal access to education. In Gender equality in
education in Iceland: Perspectives of school leaders at three school levels, equality is one of six
pillars of education in the Icelandic national curriculum guide for all school levels. One way our
country has been expanding equality is by investigating resistances in gender equality in teacher
education, school leaders and schools. Additionally, the education act of 1946 introduced a set of
reform policies that were designed to continue the equality in education.

With all due respect,

Luisanna Granillo
Luisanna Granillo, Principal

References
Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2016, from http://www.iceland.is/the-bigpicture/people-society/education/
TOWARDS A STRATEGY TO PREVENT DROPOUT IN ICELAND - OECD.org. (n.d.).
Retrieved November 8, 2016, from http://www.oecd.org/iceland/49451462.pdf
(n.d.). Gender equality in education in Iceland: Perspectives of school leaders at three school
levels. Retrieved November 08, 2016, from http://www.eera-ecer.de/ecerprogrammes/conference/21/contribution/38364/