Iceland Lacks National Figures on School Non-Attendance

2026-02-10 - 13:08

The Icelandic government does not hold comprehensive data on how many children fail to attend compulsory schooling, according to a response from the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs. As reported by mbl.is, the issue was raised in a parliamentary question by Nanna Margrét Gunnlaugsdóttir, who asked how many children had not attended school over the past five years, the reasons for non-attendance, and whether those children were living in Iceland, abroad or at an unknown location. What's the Story? The Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs does not collect national data on children’s school attendance Municipalities are responsible for tracking attendance and recording exemptions under the Act on Primary Schools A central student database is being implemented to provide a nationwide overview of school attendance Students at Reykjavík junior college MR. Photo: Golli Gaps in oversight In its response, the ministry confirmed that it does not systematically collect school attendance data from municipalities and therefore cannot provide national figures. While municipalities are required to monitor deviations from attendance locally, no central overview currently exists. The ministry stated that a planned central student database is intended to address this gap by offering a nationwide picture of school attendance. According to the Directorate for Education and School Services, work on implementing the database has already begun. The data is expected to support improvements in school operations, services and policymaking. Under Icelandic law, responsibility for compulsory education lies with municipalities. “According to the Act on Primary Schools, No. 91/2008, municipalities are obliged to ensure that school-age children who are legally domiciled in the municipality and children who have been placed in foster care with foster parents who are legally domiciled in the municipality, enjoy school attendance,” the minister’s response states. School principals are tasked with recording attendance and handling requests for temporary exemptions. If a child does not attend school without valid reasons, principals must seek remedial measures and notify child protection services.