Education

Education

A fundamental principle of Icelandic education is that everyone should have equal opportunities to acquire an education, irrespective of sex, economic status, residential location, religion, possible handicaps, and cultural, social or ethnic background.

The Parliament(Alþingi), and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture(Menntamálaráðuneytið), are legally and politically responsible for the education system and determine its basic objectives and administrative framework. The elementary school system has recently been decentralized and since 1996 local municipalities manage the schools. The municipalities are therefore responsible for providing access to pre-school and compulsory school facilities and also for all financial support of these facilities. However, the government is directly responsible for secondary and post-secondary education in Iceland.

Three secondary schools are located in East Iceland, thereoff one in Egilsstaðir and one in Fjardabyggd (Neskaupsstadur). East Iceland has no college or university. In the past it was necessary to go to Reykjavík, Akureyri or abroad to get university education but in recent years new opportunities have emerged with distance education.