Education in Iceland
The system of education in Iceland is divided in four levels: playschool, compulsory, upper secondary and higher, and is similar to that of other Nordic countries.
[9] Over the years, the educational system has been decentralised, and responsibility for primary and lower secondary schools lies with the local authorities.
The Educational Testing Institute is the country's sole examination board; responsible for issuing and grading national assessments.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responsible for the policies and methods that playschools must use, and they issue the National Curriculum Guidelines.
They are also responsible for ensuring that the curriculum is suitable so as to make the transition into compulsory education as easy as possible.
However, the Ministry does not implement the regulations and guidelines; instead this is the responsibility of the local authority, who fund and administer playschools.
[citation needed] The buildings are often purpose-built on a site where around 30-40m2 of playing space is available for each child in the playground.
[citation needed] Children attend playschool for a minimum of four and a maximum of nine hours per day.
[citation needed] Responsibility lies with parents for making sure that their children attend and register at school.
[citation needed] The state is responsible for assessing institutions to make sure that they are operating within the law and the National Curriculum Guidelines.
[7] In Iceland assessment and evaluation of pupils is conducted internally, and is not standardised between different institutions.
[citation needed] Their principal purpose is to help ease the transition into upper secondary education and help the pupil to choose a course of study.
[7] Similar to primary education in other countries, from years one to seven, the same teacher teaches the pupils all of their subjects.
[citation needed] All students have the right to enter upper secondary education when they turn sixteen.
Some schools enjoy more prestige and popularity than others, especially in Reykjavík, and those may need to turn away hundreds of students every year.
[citation needed] The gymnasia can be divided thus: The law requires that there are academic, vocational, artistic and general programmes of study, all of which lead to higher education.
Any gymnasium can therefore offer the matriculation examination, called the Stúdentspróf, providing it complies with Ministry of Education regulations.
[citation needed] The gymnasia have forms which operate on a unit-credit system, that is to say a term is divided into course units, each of which is worth a certain number of credits.
[citation needed] Many institutions also offer evening classes targeted at adults, some of which are on par with their daytime courses.
There were no nationally co-ordinated exams in upper secondary education until school year 2003–4, when certain subjects were introduced.
Vocational teachers must be qualified in their particular discipline, or must be a master craftsman in their trade, and have at least two years of experience.
There is also separate legislation in place for each public institution, defining their role in research and general organisation.
The Senate ultimately makes decisions on the running and organisation of the institution and formulates policy.
[citation needed] The academic year lasts from September to May and is divided into two terms: autumn and spring.
[7] Most undergraduates will have to pass some form of matriculation exam to get into university;[16] however those with sufficient work experience may be admitted in some cases.
Vocational and technical courses have looser requirements, only stating that the applicant have some sort of experience in their chosen field of study.
[citation needed] Grants are available for post-graduates in research universities, which are awarded on the basis of joint submission from student and professor, and approval from the respective faculty.
[6] With the changes in the law, a special school was opened in Reykjavik for students with intellectual disabilities, and similar programs followed.
The Iceland University of Education developed programs to train teachers and other specialists to provide appropriate services.
[6] Consequently, after reaching the end of compulsory school age, it is difficult for students with significant cognitive impairments to find further education.
