education iceland system education iceland divided levels compulsory upper secondary higher similar countries education mandatory children aged institutions funded state private schools country iceland country background national education law education law national curriculum published curriculum periodically revised overall education system significantly modernized compulsory education act mandated special education services students disabilities according science culture science culture jurisdiction educational responsibility traditionally education iceland run public sector small growing number private education institutions country years educational system responsibility primary lower secondary schools lies local authorities state runs upper secondary schools higher education institutions ministry issues publishes educational materials education institutions issues free charge country sole examination board responsible issuing grading national assessments institutions catering compulsory education schools upper secondary education higher education institutions history oldest country traces origin school established school moved poor housing conditions forced near school moved current location new building erected higher education institution country established june uniting schools taught theology medicine law respectively university originally fields addition faculty rector university professor faculty levels education system comprises levels compulsory upper secondary higher non compulsory education age step education system current legislation concerning passed science culture responsible policies methods use issue national curriculum guidelines responsible ensuring curriculum suitable transition compulsory education easy possible ministry implement regulations guidelines instead responsibility local authority fund administer addition local authority employs representatives supervise operation parents pay children attend costs running institutions covered fees private fees higher public institutions private schools receive municipal funding buildings purpose built site playing space available child playground child allocated indoors institutions intended mixed sex intended children age youngest children attend years old children single parents students given priority cases children handicap given priority majority cases children divided age groups smaller communities grouped children attend minimum maximum hours day compulsory compulsory education lit basic school period education compulsory legislation concerning compulsory education passed municipalities took running compulsory education comprises primary lower secondary education takes place institution law states education mandatory children ages school year lasts months begins august september ending june minimum number school days new teachers wage contract increase lessons place days week responsibility lies parents making sure children attend register school law states responsibility municipality instruction fund institutions includes teaching substitute teaching administration specialist services provide special education required entry requirements pupils acceptance rate years age pupils right attend school area live state requires school handicapped pupils mainstream education state responsible assessing institutions sure operating law produce educational materials implement educational law regulations compulsory education divided years schools years year seven years common schools teach years wider area size institutions widely varied urban area schools pupils size rural areas schools fewer pupils schools fewer pupils compulsory education institutions mixed sex services available including help studies specific subjects psychological available school follow exceptions schools special characteristics school required create school working plan annual calendar organise teaching pupil assessment provide activities number lessons year follows provisions learning mother tongue foreign language deaf hearing impaired pupils pupils expected pace teaching students struggling receive teaching moved classes emphasis providing variety teaching methods assessment iceland assessment evaluation pupils conducted internally different institutions pupils given regular reports year progress way varies schools example numerical year given oral written assessment given principal purpose help ease transition upper secondary education help pupil choose course study pupils awarded certificate marks end compulsory schooling period addition pupil assessment law requires schools implement form self evaluation quality services sure institutions operating inside law guidelines schools assessed externally years science culture teachers similar primary education countries years seven teacher teaches pupils subjects year upwards pupils receive teaching number different teachers marks boundary primary education lower secondary education groups mixed year year primary school teachers general teachers received training typical course lasts years lower secondary teachers trained degree required situation courses designed academic practical municipalities responsible employment teachers optional service teacher training courses offered annual basis upper secondary upper secondary education lit continued school follows lower secondary education schools known english compulsory compulsory education right upper secondary education typical course length years students aged length course vary especially courses stage education governed like schools iceland upper secondary schools mixed sex students pay tuition fees pay fee expected buy textbooks students courses pay portion costs materials use students right enter upper secondary education turn sixteen students leaving lower secondary education enter upper secondary education notable drop rate specific entry requirements different courses students right sort education general program study available students fail meet requirements schools enjoy prestige popularity especially need turn away hundreds students year school year lasts months divided terms autumn spring students attend lessons week lasting minutes vary drastically institutions country sizes vary primary schools largest students smallest divided grammar schools offering year long programmes study ending exams industrial schools theoretical practical courses trades comprehensive schools offering mixture courses qualities grammar school industrial institution addition specialised programmes specialised schools programmes study specific trades careers law requires academic artistic general programmes study lead higher education gymnasium offer examination called providing regulations forms operate unit credit system term divided course units worth certain number credits students consequently able regulate speed education based personal circumstances system upper secondary institutions iceland institutions offer evening classes targeted adults par daytime courses distance learning offered schools services offered like compulsory education institutions assessment examinations taken end term opposed end year final years based continuous assessments assignments courses final exams nationally exams upper secondary education school year certain subjects introduced institutions required self assess like compulsory education institutions assessed externally years teachers upper secondary teachers required completed years university years devoted major subject teaching skills teachers qualified particular discipline master trade years experience service training courses offered teachers paid state hired individual school higher education final level higher education lit high school institutions country run state institution opened principal higher education institution country recent years universities opened country widening range choices available legislation concerning higher education institutions passed includes definition term include universities carry research separate legislation place public institution defining role research general organisation private public universities receive funding state administration university divided senate rector faculty meetings faculty councils universities divided senate ultimately makes decisions running organisation institution policy state contract university defining institution objectives funding state institution despite growing number higher education institutions country students decide pursue university education abroad studies academic year lasts september divided terms autumn spring admission pass form exam university sufficient work experience admitted cases technical courses requirements stating sort experience chosen field study institutions free set admission criteria registration potential students takes place june year application deadline foreign students earlier march student finance state run institutions students need pay registration fees tuition fees private institutions charge fees students eligible financial support exact depends financial personal situation student begin repay money years completing study programme addition students students european_union member states eligible apply loans working trade country year annually limited number scholarships available foreign students study language literature offered science culture grants available post graduates research universities awarded basis joint submission student professor approval respective faculty special education compulsory education act selected groups students disabilities deaf blind students received formal special education students mild disabilities accommodated rural schools changes law special school opened students mental similar programs followed students physical disabilities regular classrooms developed programs train teachers specialists provide appropriate services reflecting cultural values tolerance equity celebrating differences current government policy emphasizes inclusion school segregated classrooms schools permitted supported education law upper secondary education students attend schools university receive appropriate supports exempt normal entrance requirements demonstrating given level reading mathematics achievement consequently reaching end compulsory school age difficult students significant find education
Education in Iceland