Chapter 18: National Policies and Practices on ICT in Education: Iceland

The Icelandic education system is based on the principle that opportunities to access education should be equal, irrespective of gender, religion, socioeconomic status, or residence. In line with this principle, every Icelander is entitled to a free education, be it compulsory (primary and lower secondary) school, upper secondary school, or higher education. The system is financed by the state and by local municipal authorities. In 2000, about 6.0% of Iceland’s GDP was spent on education. The Althing (the Icelandic parliament) is legally responsible for the educational system. The governing body that administers the system is the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture.¹