Never before has such a high ratio of elementary students applied for secondary school as this spring, visir.is reports. Approximately 97 percent of all tenth graders who recently graduated from elementary school applied for secondary school.
A total of 4,477 tenth graders applied this year, compared to 4,437 last year, which also set a record. Just like last year, not everyone will be admitted; a total of 217 students will be left without a space.
Minister of Education and Culture Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
However, Minister of Education Katrín Jakobsdóttir is hopeful that room will be found for all students by the end of the month. The biggest challenge is to find vacancies in the greater capital area, which is a recurring problem.
In past years, a number of students who have not gained admittance in the first round have faced uncertainty over the summer. This year, the admission process was changed; enrollment started in April so problems could be dealt with sooner, the Ministry explained.
A priority system was established, meaning that secondary schools had to reserve 45 percent of its room for local students.
The greatest majority, a total of 428 students, applied to Verzlunarskóli Íslands, the Commercial College of Iceland. Nine schools have been forced to decline applicants.
