The city of Reykjavík has decided that a special school department for the children of asylum seekers be created at Háaleitisskóli, RÚV reports.
A report by the city revealed that between 2017 and 2019, around 57 children of asylum seekers ages 6 to 16 years old received education in Iceland. Up until now, however, these children have been divided amongst 12 different schools. Conversely, the new department hopes to secure proper education for the children under one roof.
The report also suggests that Háaleitisskóli is a prime location for the project, as it is located in the middle of the city of Reykjavík and is close to public transportation.
As Iceland Review reported back in February, the new department was originally proposed at Vogaskóli, but those plans met with some opposition. Helga Helgadóttir, director of special education at Vogaskóli school was not happy with the committee’s proposal, saying it was counter to how Vogaskóli works, and as far as she was concerned, not in compliance with elementary school laws nor The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
However, the staff of Háaleitisskóli is reportedly thrilled with this new department, whose main objective is to secure social and educational well-being of the children of asylum seekers, even if they only stay in the country for a short period of time.
The department will include a department manager, three teachers and one assistant. The estimated cost of the new project is 14.4 million ISK.
