Icelandic Teachers’ Association opposes proposal to reintroduce standardized assessments in primary schools

The Icelandic Teachers’ Association has expressed strong opposition to the Business Council’s proposal to reintroduce standardized assessments in primary schools. The Association’s chair, Magnús Þór Jónsson, describes these ideas as a regression, likening them to an outdated concept from two decades ago.

The Business Council has raised concerns about fairness in grading across Icelandic schools. They argue that students with the same grades may have different skill levels depending on their school’s location, which affects their opportunities for secondary education.

In its recent opinion, the Council cited findings from a placement test administered by the Commercial College of Iceland, designed to assess new students’ real-life skills. This test reportedly ranks students based on their school districts. Jónsson expressed surprise at this approach, stating that the purpose and nature of such a survey should be clarified.

The Council pointed out that using non-comparable grades for admissions creates inequalities based on geographic location. For example, a student from School A may receive a B+ in mathematics upon completing primary school, while a student with equivalent skills from School R might end up with a C. This discrepancy can significantly impact the latter child’s chances for further education.

Jónsson further emphasized that grade inflation is not a significant issue he has observed, noting that in his experience as a school principal, the common concern was that students’ grades were often seen as too low rather than too high. He firmly believes standardized testing is a thing of the past and that it is not feasible to go back to that system.