Renata Emilsson Peskova, the chair of the board of Móðurmáls, recently co-authored an article in the local newspaper visir.is highlighting that in recent years, Iceland’s schools have become increasingly multilingual: according to official statistics, about 16.2% of all compulsory‑school students have a mother tongue other than Icelandic.
This linguistic diversity reflects a broader trend in Icelandic society: many children speak one or more non‑Icelandic languages at home and Icelandic at school or in public life, and some speak Icelandic as their mother tongue alongside other mother tongues. The article discusses the question that all schools and teachers have to answer: May (I) forbid children to use their mother tongues in schools?
Recognising students’ mother tongues can foster cultural identity and self‑esteem. Multilingualism can be an educational asset: strong proficiency in one language can support learning additional languages. The current linguistic landscape in Icelandic schools calls for careful reflection on how language policy and educational practice can best respond to diversity. The article was published under the title “Má (ég) banna börnum að nota móðurmál í skólanum?” and discusses the reality of linguistic diversity in Icelandic schools. The authors argue that a constructive approach with inclusive language policies that allow for the respectful use of mother tongues alongside instruction in Icelandic may be beneficial. This can support integration, learning, and cultural diversity. Blanket bans on mother‑tongue use in schools may lead to exclusion or marginalisation of multilingual students by disregarding their linguistic heritage. Mother tongues should be regarded not as obstacles but as valuable resources—not only for students’ personal identity and well‑being but also for fostering a more inclusive and culturally rich educational environment while balancing the role of Icelandic as a societal language and the rights and needs of multilingual students and families.
Honkowicz Bukowska, D., Jónsdóttir, F. B., Gunnþórsdóttir, H., & Emilsson Pesková, R. (2025, November 27). Má (ég) banna börnum að nota móðurmál í skólanum? Vísir. Má (ég) banna börnum að nota móðurmál í skólanum? – Vísir
In an earlier article, Renata discussed the educational role of heritage language / mother tongue schools and how this type of non-formal education contributes to children´s language education:
Emilsson Peskova, R. (May, 2022). Móðurmál – the Association on Bilingualism: Enriching language education in Iceland. Newsletter of International Federation of Language Teacher Associations, 1, 6–10. https://www.scribd.com/document/567890912/newsletter-1-2022-nordic-baltic-region