Guests from the Nordic and Baltic Countries August 19, 2015 Education in Iceland Uddanning i Island Menntun á Íslandi- Guðni Olgeirsson, gudni.olgeirsson@mrn.is Sigurjón Mýrdal, sigurjon.myrdal@mrn.is

THE ICELANDIC SCHOOL SYSTEM Higher Education (112% increase in n. of stud. since 1997) School year Age 20 Upper Secondary Schools Not obligatory (95% attend) Most schools are mixed general and VET Most use unit-credit system Art schools Few specialised VET schools 14 16 Compulsory Schools Primary and lower secondary education Single structure system - No streaming or selection by ability 10 Pre-schools (Not obligatory, 95% of children 2-5 attend) Open access Access to a specific study programme / school, subject to specific requirements 1 6 www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

THE ICELANDIC SCHOOL SYSTEM - statistics 2011 - www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

Upper secondary schools Compulsory schools Mixed classes/inclusion (pupils with different abilities are in the same schools/classes) 180 school days a year Nationally co-ordinated exams in classes 4., 7. and 10 The teachers profession is regulated by law Upper secondary schools Most are comprehensive (academic and vocational) Most upper secondary schools in Iceland operate according to a unit-credit system/modular system 175 school days a year www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY The Icelandic parliament determines basic objectives and administrative framework of the education system. Education comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Local municipalities are responsible for the pre-schools and primary and lower secondary schools (function and funding). The state runs the upper secondary schools and schools at the higher education level. The education system has been moving towards decentralisation both with regard to responsibilities and decision-making. www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

FINANCING Local municipalities pay for the construction and the operation of pre-schools and primary and lower secondary schools. Parents pay fees for their children to attend pre-schools. Compulsory education (primary and lower secondary), including textbooks and materials, is free. The operating costs of upper secondary education are funded by the state. Education at the upper secondary level is free, but students in vocational education pay materials fee. Private institutions charge tuition fees. Students at the higher education level have access to loans from the Icelandic Student Loan Fund. www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

Legislation for Education Teacher Education 2008 University 2006 Teaching Material 2007 Preschool 2008 Compulsory School 2008 Upper Secondary School School counceling2009 Adult Education 2010

Policy making at the national level At the school level Law and regulations Recommendations Curricula for all three school levels At the school level School curricula School practise

Objectives of the legislation Stronger focus on the needs and abilities of the individual learner (reduce drop-out) Education more attractive (esp. VET), more relevant and more effective Quality assurance strengthened with focus on learning outcomes Equal status of academic and vocational education www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

Objectives of the legislation - 2 Guarantee of education for 16 - 18 years old Upper secondary schools get more freedom and responsibility in planning the education The involvement of parents more formal Status of private schools better defined and improved The school levels become better coordinated with more flexibility for students www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

Objectives of the legislation - 3 Lifelong learning perspective Shift to learning outcomes in stead of focusing on teachers and their actions in the classroom Recognition of non-formal and informal learning Decentralisation, empowerment of education providers www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

NEW NATIONAL CURRICULUM GUIDE Published in 2011- Subjects for compulsory education 2013 Various issues are common for pre-, compulsory- and upper secondary schools Objectives of the educational system are discussed in a common chapter for all levels The education policy rests on 6 fundamental pillars Emphasis is on flexibility and continuity Also on school development and general professionalism of teachers at all levels. www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is

Continuity and wholistic view in the public school system Main educational policy Fundamental pillars in Education Goals and objectives - pupils competence School evaluation and development Common introduction chapter in the curriculum for all three school levels

Cornerstones in the new National Curricula Fundamental pillars Key competences Education

Fundamental pillars in education Equality Creativity Sustainability Democracy and human rights Literacy Health and welfare Er fjallað um í fremstu köflum aðalnámskrá leik-, grunn- og framhaldsskóla

The fundamental pillars The fundamental pillars are based on the view appearing in school legislation that both social objectives and the educational objectives of the individual are to be achieved. They are to ensure well-educated and healthy citizens, both for participating in and for changing and improving society and also for contemporary employment.

General education promotes advanced capacity of the individual for meeting the challenges of everyday life. Is the goal of integral school activities and studies in fields of study, subjects and course units. Definition of the fundamental pillars is an attempt to map the main fields of the general education at which schools aim.

Information Technologies Icelandic Physical Education Foreign languages Arts and Crafts Natural Sciences Social Studies Mathematics

Co-operative working methods System level decentralized school system democrative governance School level Democratic governance parents´ representatives in the school council pupils’ representatives in the school council

Useful Websites www.island.is www.menntamalaraduneyti.is http://eng.menntamalaraduneyti.is/publications/curriculum/ www.eurydice.org www.statice.is www.samband.is www.namsmat.is www.namsgagnastofnun.is www.menntamalaraðuneyti.is