Opportunities to improve school operations

Ritstjórn
Report authors Ingvar Sigurgeirsson and Lilja M. Jónsdóttir alongside Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson, executive director of SSH.

A new report prepared for the Association of Municipalities in the Capital Area (SSH) identifies opportunities to reduce the workload for primary school teachers and other staff. The report falls under the Welfare and Community policy area of the capital area's 2025-2029 strategic plan. The findings were presented at a joint meeting of SSH and school administrators on Tuesday, May 19th

The document identifies primary stressors in school operations, citing an increase in complex cases, more behavioral and social difficulties among students, challenging interactions with parents, staff shortages, and a shifting student demographic. It specifically notes that a growing number of students speaking Icelandic as a second language creates new challenges for schools.

Management practices are key

A central takeaway is that strong, supportive management practices can significantly reduce staff stress. The authors emphasize the importance of accessible administrators, leadership flexibility, and a foundation of trust between teachers and management.

Skólastofan slf. produced the report, authored by Dr. Ingvar Sigurgeirsson and Dr. Lilja M. Jónsdóttir, who both bring decades of experience in educational research. Their research draws on focus group interviews with 163 staff members across 25 primary schools alongside survey responses from roughly 2,000 participants.

A coordinated municipal response

The SSH school affairs committee reviewed the document last March and has since recommended next steps. These recommendations urge capital area municipalities to collaborate on improvements by aligning procedures, increasing support, and sharing effective solutions among schools.

The committee prioritized 10 actions, flagging four as most urgent. These are:

  • Clearer, more consistent procedures for students with serious behavioral challenges
  • Prioritizing school support services for schools experiencing the greatest strain
  • Reducing meetings and streamlining reporting and educational assessment processes
  • A more measured approach to rolling out development projects in schools

Work on these actions is expected to begin within six months.

The SSH school affairs committee stayed after the presentation to discuss the document with attendees.
Hluti skólamálanefndar SSH ásamt skýrsluhöfundum.

Part of a broader commitment to children's prosperity

This project aligns with broader policy making around child prosperity in the capital area. Related efforts include establishing a Child Prosperity Council in November 2025, continuing work to better serve children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and issuing a new declaration of intent to develop specialized school services.

These findings offer a clear picture of current conditions and lay the groundwork for targeted improvements to school operations across capital area municipalities in the coming years.

The cover photo shows report authors Ingvar Sigurgeirsson and Lilja M. Jónsdóttir alongside Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson, executive director of SSH.