Teachers in Iceland face underreported violence, calls for better protections emerge

The extent of violence against teachers is underestimated, according to the chairperson of the Association of Primary School Teachers. There is insufficient data available, and efforts are being made to ensure teachers receive compensation if they suffer harm.

Mjöll Matthíasdóttir, the chair of the Association, pointed out that some primary school teachers have even taken out insurance to protect themselves from potential workplace violence. She emphasized the need to clarify teachers’ rights with municipalities in such incidents and noted a lack of oversight regarding the issue.

She expressed concern that there is not enough awareness of the situation, stating that incidents must be reported to the Icelandic Work Environment Authority. Only 25 incidents were reported between 2020 and 2021, which Mjöll views as a significant underreporting of the issue.

She reinforced the necessity for improved recording and reporting mechanisms from schools, municipalities, and teachers. “There is a lack of documentation. I suspect we do not have a comprehensive understanding of this.”

Despite provisions in collective agreements that guarantee sick leave and compensation for injuries occurring at work, not all cases are acknowledged. An example was cited where a teacher in Kópavogur was denied compensation based on a 1991 Supreme Court ruling, which exempted a young perpetrator due to their age at the time of the incident.

Mjöll highlighted that teachers have purchased general accident insurance to protect themselves. A report is underway to assess the situation of teachers in light of collective agreements, as collaboration within the educational community is essential to improve registration and information sharing.