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Dear readers!
In past years the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has published the booklet “Upper Secondary School in Iceland”. The booklet was especially written for students who are finishing their compulsory education and was been distributed to them in the spring. In a turning point decision the booklet will no longer be given out in print form but will be available on the internet. The information has been better designed to suit the internet, and should be useful when looking for information such as the entry requirements for a course of study and what school offers the programmes of study. There will also be a direct link to all secondary schools where there is further information about the ...

Dear readers!
In past years the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has published the booklet “Upper Secondary School in Iceland”. The booklet was especially written for students who are finishing their compulsory education and was been distributed to them in the spring. In a turning point decision the booklet will no longer be given out in print form but will be available on the internet. The information has been better designed to suit the internet, and should be useful when looking for information such as the entry requirements for a course of study and what school offers the programmes of study. There will also be a direct link to all secondary schools where there is further information about the courses and services on offer in each school. The internet version of the booklet is available in 9 languages.

Secondary education in Iceland is for everybody. There are just over 30 secondary schools in Iceland with each one having its own distinctive features and areas of specialization. However, they all have the common goal of providing students with the best education possible. In recent years the amount of students, programmes and services on offer has steadily increased. The new law regarding secondary education clarifies the rights and opportunities of students. For instance, according to law students who are 16 and 17 years of age now have the legal right to pursue a secondary school education.

Dear 10th graders, your compulsory studies will soon be behind you and it is time to decide how you are going to spend the next school year. I strongly encourage you to begin your secondary education in the autumn. An education is one of the most important things that we can own. Education is used in daily life and occupations and can never be taken away from us. You must now decide what course of study best suits you and is most in keeping with your interests, talents and future plans. Make use of the website “Secondary Education”, look at the schools’ websites, and talk to your parents, teachers and counsellors. In this way you can best prepare yourself for your continuing studies in secondary school. 

Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Minister of Education, Science and Culture