Multicultural education in Iceland: Vision or reality?

In this paper, the development of educational policy and curricula in relation to the development of a multicultural society in Iceland are critically discussed. Neither policy nor national curriculum guides refer particularly to multicultural society, multicultural or intercultural education. Implementations of equity principles are not clear in the curriculum guides. These facts leave schools at all levels with little guidance regarding how to implement multicultural education and even less encouragement to do so. However, examples of good multicultural practices in schools are increasing in number, largely led by interested principals, many of who have been educated in the field of multicultural or intercultural education. These schools are often encouraged and supported by highly progressive municipal policies.