In the late 1980s, a new educational approach began in Iceland, quietly changing the landscape for early childhood and primary schooling. Called Hjallastefnan, or the Hjalli model, it was the vision of educator Margrét Pála Ólafsdóttir. Launching her first preschool in Hafnarfjörður in 1989, Margrét Pála sought to challenge existing methods by emphasising both gender equality and personal development.
Cultivating equality through education
At the heart of Hjallastefnan is the idea that children benefit from learning in small, single-gender groups for at least part of the school day. This structure, referred to as compensatory pedagogy, is designed to compensate for social patterns that often reinforce traditional gender roles. Within these focused groups, teachers deliberately encourage the development of qualities that might otherwise be underrepresented, aiming to help children expand their range of skills and behaviours.
Another characteristic of Hjallastefnan is its intentionally minimalist classroom design. The schools use open-ended materials, such as blocks, sand, water and paper, instead of standard textbooks or branded toys. Uniforms are also a feature, intended to reduce social pressures linked to clothing and to promote a sense of belonging among students.
Controversy and growth
From its early days, Hjallastefnan drew both admiration and disagreement. By the 1990s and 2000s, its methods had spread to additional kindergartens and even to primary education under the name Barnaskóli Hjallastefnunnar. As of now, Hjalli Ltd operates 14 kindergartens and three elementary schools across Iceland, enrolling approximately 1,700 students and employing around 400 staff.
Supporters of the Hjalli model claim that separating children into single-gender groups for certain activities enables teachers to directly address common stereotypes and cultivate strengths that can be underdeveloped due to social expectations. When the groups reunite, this targeted development is said to help break down limiting notions about gender roles.
Detractors question whether Hjallastefnan’s approach is distinct enough or whether its practices could risk reinforcing, rather than reducing, gender separation. Another frequent point of debate is the use of uniforms and the degree to which the model has evolved over time.
Teachers in Hjalli-model preschools have reported lower noise levels and fewer voice strain symptoms than their counterparts in other schools, a finding linked to structured activities and classroom discipline. Hjallastefnan has become a notable alternative within Iceland’s increasingly diverse educational sector, especially as private schooling options have expanded in the country.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
