Proclaim an effort in education but cut down at the same time

The next five years, according to the Government’s financial plan, will be cut down by ISK 1.5 billion, of which about ISK billion is between 2025 to 2026.

This is done at the same time as a major attendance is proclaimed in education, with a focus on the improved environment of students and teachers, Icelandic teaching, literacy and access to a variety of study materials, support for the education system, deposit, early intervention, continuing and continuing education, as well as the same education.

The Director of Home and School criticizes the announced cuts fiercely and says he will come down to important projects. The Board of Directors has sent all MPs a mail where the cut is strongly objected to.

Temporary budgetary sources canceled

A reduction of 1.5 billion krónur a reduction is offered to the expenditure framework in the field « other school levels and education administration » in the Government’s financial plan for the years 2026 to 2030, for example, to some extent the preschool and elementary school level.

The main objective of the field is for education, both formal and informal, as well as the study and working environment of students and teachers to support the value, equality and prosperity and withstand international comparison, the financial plan says.

It is stated that the main changes will be due to the cancellation of temporary budgetary resources, for example due to measures in foreigners’ affairs and reductions due to restraint proposals from the optimization group.

As no minister has been present

« The biggest absurdity in this is that there are beautiful promises to make Iceland the best system, but then you just have to cut down, » says Sigurður Sigurðsson, Home and School Manager, in a conversation with mbl.is, but he also wrote Article on the issue on Vísi Yesterday.

« It just looks like it has been decided to cut down and that no minister was there to defend one thing or another, » he adds.

The ministerial change took place in the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs at the end of March, when Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir resigned and Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson took over.

Sigurd points out that it is not specifically explained in the plan what it entails to cancel temporary budgetary resources.

In reality, however, this means that the number of important projects will be discontinued. Including children’s violence prevention, the deposit of foreign parents in the school community and the prosperity covenant of the home and school, which have had a positive impact on strengthening parenting.

Contract withdrawn with no reservation

« We have been going all over the country with support from the ministry, among other things, but now everything should be canceled.

We had a contract on the table for this year, but it was withdrawn with almost no notice. We get some support, but then the issues should be discussed after the budget is over. « 

Sigurdur says that at a glance, cuts in the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs appear to be around ISK 5 to 7 billion.

« It is a big deal if it is to save state accounts through the children. »