Iceland's Education Minister states the system has failed students and teachers, citing a 40% literacy crisis. Inga Sæland, the Minister of Education and Children, said the national education system has failed both students and teachers. She places the responsibility for the discussed system on former ministers and those who set its rules.
"On average, around forty percent of our children graduate here with poor reading comprehension after ten years of compulsory school," Sæland said during an interview on Bylgjan radio's Sprengisandur program. "They can read two hundred words per minute but then hit a wall when they go to secondary school. We have a tremendous dropout rate."
She and the Chairman of the Icelandic Teachers' Union are now looking to the Finnish model for solutions, aiming to convene all stakeholders in the education system for a summit.
A Persistent Problem
The minister specifically wants to look at those who drop out of secondary school, partly due to difficulties with reading comprehension. The group leaving studies during secondary school years is a significant concern for both her and Magnús Þór Jónsson, chairman of the Icelandic Teachers' Union, who also appeared on Sprengisandur.
Historical data shows this is not a new issue. In a 2022 response to a parliamentary inquiry, then-Minister of Education Ásmundur Einar Daðason stated the dropout rate for new students in upper secondary schools was 5.7 percent for the 2021-2022 school year. From 2010 to 2022, the dropout rate was highest in the 2014-15 school year at 7.5 percent and lowest in 2019-20 at 4 percent.
The Call for a Collective Response
Minister Sæland's proposed solution hinges on collaboration. Her plan to bring together all stakeholders in the education system indicates a shift towards a more unified, national strategy. This approach mirrors the Finnish system, often lauded for its equity, highly trained teachers, and lower-stress environment, which has consistently produced high literacy rates and student well-being outcomes.
Magnús Þór Jónsson's presence alongside the minister signals a potential alignment between the government and the teaching profession, a relationship crucial for implementing any meaningful reform. The union has long highlighted workload, class sizes, and insufficient support for diverse learners as key challenges.
The Finnish Model as a North Star
Looking to Finland is a logical but ambitious step. The Finnish system's success is built on deep societal trust in teachers, who all hold master's degrees, and a focus on play and well-being in early education rather than standardized testing. It emphasizes equity, ensuring all students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality support. Implementing such a model in Iceland would require significant investment in teacher training, a possible restructuring of the school day, and a cultural shift in how student success is measured.
For Iceland, a nation with a deep literary tradition, the literacy statistics are particularly jarring. The crisis has implications far beyond the classroom, potentially affecting future workforce skills, civic engagement, and social cohesion. The minister's blunt assessment that "the system has failed" is a clear call to action.
The Path Forward and Political Implications
The upcoming summit of stakeholders will be the first real test of whether this rhetoric can translate into action. Key questions will need addressing: What specific interventions will be funded to improve literacy in early grades? How will teacher education and ongoing professional development be enhanced? Is there political will to reduce class sizes and provide more specialized support staff?
As an environmental and political correspondent, the parallels with other systemic challenges in Iceland are clear. Just as the nation has faced crises in its fisheries or energy management that required collective, evidence-based responses, the education system now demands a similar national effort. The success or failure of this initiative will likely define Minister Sæland's tenure and impact Iceland's social and economic landscape for a generation. The eyes of parents, teachers, and students across Reykjavik and beyond will be on the Althing to see if this moment of stark acknowledgment leads to meaningful change.