The Faroese Ministry of Education, Culture and Research (Mentamálaráðið) carries out the administration of all schools in the Faroe Islands.

The Faroese government is the authority and is responsible for all educations on the Faroe Islands. Most of the education provided corresponds to the Danish educational system.

Basic education
Part of the Faroese educational policy is that every child should be able to attend primary school in
its own village.

Primary and secondary school (fólkaskúlin). Children start school when they are 7 years of age and there are 9 years of compulsory schooling. Danish is taught from third grade and English from forth grade. From the eighth grade the pupils start in secondary school and the curriculum consists of a certain number of compulsory subjects and a selection of optional subjects which the individual pupil can choose. German is an optional subject from eighth grade. At the end of ninth grade, pupils can pass an examination that permits entrance to upper secondary education, but they may stay on for a further year (tenth grade).

Upper secondary education
There are 5 different types of upper secondary education. The examinations taken at these schools correspond to similar examinations in

General upper secondary education (studentaskúlin).The education takes three years.

Higher Preparatory Course (HF). The education takes two years.

Business College (handilsskúlin). The education consists of one basic year, after which the student can continue at the Business College for two more years or leave for training in a shop or an office.

Technical College (tekniski skúlin). The education consists of one basic year that ends with an examination. After the basic year the student can either apply for an apprenticeship, or, if accepted by the college, continue for 2 more years.

Fishery College (fiskivinnuskúlin). The education consists of one basic year that ends with an examination. After the basic year the student can leave to work in the fishery industry, or continue for 2 more years and take a final examination.

Different Courses
The courses provided at the following schools are not designed as a basis for further education, they are mainly aimed at developing the students’ personal interests.

Folk High School (fólkaháskúlin)

Home Economics School (húsarhaldsskúlin)

The School of Music (musikkskúlin)

Evening Schools (kvøldskúlin)