Challenges: new funding priorities oversee the potential of ALE
Funding situation of ALE slightly deteriorated due to changing priorities which put emphasis on funding programmes for the unemployed, distributed through the Directorate of Labour. According to the EAEA member in Iceland, the authorities have to a certain extent disregarded the resources that lie within the ALE sector in Iceland.
Impact of COVID-19 on ALE
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the adult learning and education sector in Iceland. According to the EAEA Icelandic member Leikn, shifting learning activities to a digital environment has attracted new groups of learners. Due to the necessary changes in outreach work, new partnerships with social services etc. have been established. That said, reaching the target groups has been a particular challenge due to the low digital skills of disadvantaged groups and inadequate digital environments. The shift to online learning required greater participation in train-the-trainer programmes to better prepare adult educators for teaching in the digital space.