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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Management and other education staff

Iceland

10.Management and other education staff

Last update: 27 November 2023

Management and Other Education Staff

The Minister of Education, Science and Culture is in charge of affairs covered by the Acts for the school system as a whole and issues National Curriculum Guides accordingly. 

Local authorities are responsible for the operation of pre-primary schools. All pre-primary schools are to have head teachers who are the directors of their operations on behalf of the operating body under the Local Government Act. The head teacher administers daily operations and activities of the school and ensures that pre-primary school activities comply with law and regulations, the National Curriculum Guide for pre-primary schools and other current provisions.

Local authorities are responsible for compulsory school operations. Compulsory schools are to have head teachers who are the directors of the school, in charge of its administration, providing professional leadership and being responsible towards the local authority for the school’s operations. The head teacher ensures that school operations comply with all acts and regulations, the National Curriculum Guide and other provisions currently in force in the local authority. 

The Minister of Education, Science and Culture oversees the affairs of the upper secondary schools and appoints head teachers for terms of five years. Under the Upper Secondary School Act, the head teacher is the director of the school. The head teacher manages daily administration and school activities and ensures that school operations comply with all Acts, regulations, the National Curriculum Guide and other provisions currently in force. The head teacher is responsible for devising a financial plan and ensuring that the school budget is followed, and takes initiative in formulating the school curriculum guide and organize developmental work within the school.