The Ministry of Education will pay out about 82 million ISK to 33
companies and education centers who wish to teach Icelandic to
foreigners. About 40 companies filed for government support to a total of 125.5 million ISK when the ministry advertised for funding applications last year.
The advertisement asked for companies and education centers who desired to teach foreigners Icelandic who weren’t already a part of the primary or secondary school system. The aim is to strengthen the availability of Icelandic classes for foreigners, one of the greatest areas where the Icelandic classes have needed improvement.
Many companies in Iceland offer Icelandic classes for their foreign employees, usually at no cost to the employee and sometimes as a part of working hours. As the vast majority of immigrants living in Iceland are required by law to be gainfully employed as a condition of staying here, Icelandic classes as a part of working hours has been seen as one of the best solutions to making the classes more readily available to more foreigners.