skólakerfisins

Skólakerfið, or the Icelandic school system, encompasses early childhood education, compulsory schooling, and secondary education. It is designed to provide all citizens with access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities. Early childhood education, including preschool, is widely used and emphasizes social development and preparation for formal schooling; it is not mandatory.

Compulsory education lasts ten years, typically from ages 6 to 16, and takes place in grunnskóli (primary and lower secondary). The curriculum is guided by the national framework and adapted by municipalities to local needs. After grunnskóli, students may enter framhaldsskóli (upper secondary school), where they usually study for about three years in both general and vocational tracks.

Assessment and progression: The system emphasizes continuous assessment, with final matriculation-style examinations in many framhaldsskóli programs, such as the stúdentspróf for university admission. There are also other routes to higher education and the labor market. The language of instruction is primarily Icelandic, with foreign language study encouraged from an early age; English is commonly taught.

Governance and funding: Public funds cover the majority of schools, which are administered mainly by municipalities under oversight of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Private and independent schools operate under national regulations. In recent decades, the system has placed emphasis on inclusion, equal access, digital literacy, and adaptation to demographic changes, including increasing linguistic and cultural diversity.