Education & Research
The level of education is high in Iceland. Literacy has been universal in Iceland since the end of the eighteenth century. In 1907 school attendance was made obligatory for all children aged 10-14.
A fundamental principle of the Icelandic educational system is that everyone should have equal opportunities to acquire an education, irrespective of sex, economic status, residential location, religion, possible handicap, and cultural or social background.
Education in Iceland has traditionally been organised within the public sector, and there are very few private institutions in the school system. Almost all private schools receive public funding. In pre-schools children receive education and support for their all-round development, thus preparing them for compulsory school and life itself.
At the pre-school level, the nucleus of the educational work is play. The main purpose of compulsory schooling is to prepare pupils for life and work in a continuously developing, democratic society. The organisation of the school as well as its work shall, therefore, be guided by tolerance, Christian values and democratic cooperation. At the upper secondary level anyone who has completed compulsory education or has turned eighteen has the right to enter a course of studies. An effort must be made to give pupils a choice of subjects and forms of instruction in accordance with their needs and wishes. The primary aims of upper secondary education are to prepare pupils for life and work in a democratic society by offering them suitable opportunities to learn and develop individually, and prepare them for employment through specialised studies leading to professional qualifications or further study.
Universities are entrusted with the task of carrying out research and offering higher education programmes in different subjects, as stipulated by the legislation governing each institution. The main purpose of adult education is to encourage equality of opportunity among adults without regard to location, age, gender, occupation or previous education.
Life-long learning is a global concept, covering all education that individuals receive in the course of their lives. Important elements in life-long learning are all types of shortor long-term continuing studies, supplementary studies and hobby-related studies.
