WELCOME TO THE HJALLI MODEL!

The Hjalli Model, founded by Margrét Pála Ólafsdóttir in Iceland in 1989, is an educational approach for early childhood education that promotes gender equality through a structured yet unconventional method. It seeks to counteract traditional gender roles by creating learning environments that allow children to explore a broader range of behaviors and skills than those typically encouraged by society.

Core Ideas on Gender Equality

Compensatory Pedagogy – The Hjalli Model recognizes that society conditions boys and girls differently from birth. To balance these influences, the model deliberately strengthens qualities that are often underdeveloped in each gender.  So, although the curriculum is the same for both genders, and all the children practice all the same tasks, the emphasis for the boys and girls are slightly different:

Girls are encouraged to be more assertive, adventurous, and independent.

Boys are taught to be more empathetic, gentle, and cooperative.

Single gender groups

To be able to strengthen those qualities, the Hjalli Model finds it necessary to teach in single-gender groups. This allows them to develop without the social pressures and expectations that arise in mixed-gender environments where boys “own” certain qualities like strength and initiative and girls “own” other qualities like caring and communication.

When there are only girls present, they are more willing to take on tasks that usually are considered belonging to boys, such as leadership roles. And when there are only boys present in a group they are more willing to try on tasks that usually are thought to belong to girls, such as helping out the younger boys.

Neutral and Minimalist Environment

Hjalli Model classrooms are designed to minimize stereotypical gender cues. Toys, decorations, and materials are simple and neutral to avoid reinforcing traditional gender roles. Traditional toys are replaced with open ended play material such as blocks, play dough, art supplies and other non-gendered materials.

Role-Playing and Experiential Learning

Guided by the teacher the children engage in activities that encourage them to practice a wide range of skills and that are designed to break up mental restraints to make room for a mindset of equality. The exercises are built up like a scaffolding system, where one course is built on top of the previous one, training social qualities every other month and individual qualities every other month:

Course 1: Respect - Social qualities: order, behavior, manners and presentation.

Course 2: Independence - Individual qualities: empowerment, confidence, self-reliance and expression.

Course 3: Communication - Social qualities: acceptance, open-mindedness, helpfulness and solidarity.

Course 4: Positivity - Individual qualities: assertiveness, candor, optimism and joy.

Course 5: Friendship - Social qualities: companionship, compassion, warmth and kindness.

Course 6: Courage - Individual qualities: bravery, strength, action and initiative.

Gradual Integration

After a period of separate learning, boys and girls come together for mixed-gender activities, bringing their strengthened skills into a more balanced social setting.