Statistics Iceland has published data on the number of students at the upper secondary and tertiary levels and on the enrolment rate of 16-29 year olds in the middle of the autumn semester of 2004.
The enrolment rate of 16 year olds has never been higher, now 93%
The enrolment rate of 16 year olds in Iceland in autumn 2004 was 93% when all modes of teaching are considered (day courses, evening school, external learning, and distance learning). The enrolment rate has increased by more than one percentage point since the previous year. The enrolment rate of 16 year olds has now been over 90% for three consecutive years.
The enrolment rate of 17 year olds is lower by 10 percentage points
It is interesting to note how many students drop out of school or take a temporary leave from their studies in the second or third year of upper secondary education. When comparing the enrolment rate of 17 year olds in autumn 2004 to the enrolment rate of 16 year olds, the difference is 10 percentage points on the average. There is a considerable difference in the enrolment rate by age group when examining different regions in Iceland. In the capital region outside of Reykjavík, the Westfjords and in Eastern Iceland there are proportionally more students at the age of 17 than in other regions in Iceland, 84-87%. On the other hand there are proportionally few students in Southwest and South Iceland, 75% and 80%, respectively. In the Southwest the enrolment rate of 17 year olds is 15 percentage points lower and the rate for 18 year olds is 28 percentage points lower than the rate for 16 year olds. The enrolment rate in this region is considerably lower than in the same age groups in other regions.
The drop in the enrolment rate during the first years of upper secondary education can be seen as an indication of the number of dropouts. However, it must be kept in mind that there are other explanatory factors. Some students may have completed their programmes and have graduated while others may have taken a temporary leave from their studies.
The enrolment rate of females is higher than the rate for males
The enrolment rate of 16 year old boys is 92% while it is 94% for 16 year old girls. The difference around the age of 20 is interesting. At the age of 19 the rate for males is 66% and 73% for females. At the age of 20 the difference in the enrolment rate between the sexes is minimal (56% and 57%). At the age of 20 students generally graduate from upper secondary education. Thus, it can be inferred from these figures that women have already graduated and taken a temporary leave from their studies while men are still studying. After the age of 20 the difference in enrolment rates increases again and is greatest around the age of 22 or 12 percentage points. The difference in the enrolment rate of the sexes is close to 10 percentage points up to the age of 29. This difference can be seen in the number of students in Icelandic universities where women are more numerous. When examining the older age groups, e.g. 40 years old and older, the number of women has increased much more than the number of men. At the upper secondary level women are three-quarters of all students over the age of 40 and 71% of students at the tertiary level in the same age group.
The enrolment rate of 16 year old girls in South Iceland is 97%
When examining the enrolment rate of 16 year olds by sex an interesting pattern can be observed. The enrolment rate for boys is higher in the capital region outside of Reykjavík but the difference is less than one percentage point. In other regions the opposite is true. The difference between the sexes is greatest in Eastern Iceland. In that region 87% of 16 year old boys attend school as opposed to 95% of 16 year old girls. Girls in South Iceland have the highest enrolment rate (97%) while the enrolment rate for 16 year old is lowest among boys in Eastern Iceland.
Information is gathered directly from the schools and refers to the number of students in the middle of October. Each student is only counted once even if he is studying in two schools. The enrolment rate is computed by classifying students by age and domicile on December 1, 2004 and computing their proportion of the relevant age group at the same date.
Statistics