Cultural Roots:

Iceland’s educational system originally stems from the roots of other Nordic country’s cultures and history (for example, Denmark and Sweden) and have been known to resemble medieval cathedral and monastery schools in Denmark (Sveinn Helgason). When Iceland became an independent nation in 1944, it still held on to a Danish influence and continues to offer the Danish language in its education system. Iceland also still maintains a strong relationship with Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, keeping hold to its cultural roots as much as it can.

Philosophical Roots:

Two philosophies have played a key role in Iceland’s education system, and both focus primarily on pre-primary students, as the country hopes that these philosophies will change a student’s education from the very beginning.

• Reggio Emilia Preschool Educational Philosophy: Stemming from Italy, the philosophy is directed toward pre-compulsory students and encourages them to explore relationships in the community and discover their unique talents at a young age (Knight).
• Hjallastefnan: Stemming from Iceland itself, the philosophy emphasizes children’s imaginations and their connection with nature and the environment through education (Sveinn Helgason).

By clicking the picture below, you can visit a website of one of Iceland’s lower secondary schools: