Sólveig Guðrún Hannesdóttir, the principal of Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, has confirmed that there are no plans to close the school's Department of Ancient Languages, despite the department struggling with low enrollment, with only seven of about 700 students registered in the program. The school's administration is actively working to reform the language department to attract more students to the ancient language track. This is critical to maintaining the program's viability, as there is a growing concern among students and faculty regarding the future of Latin instruction at the school.

Recent discussions have arisen from a student op-ed that highlighted the potential discontinuation of first-year Latin classes, which are considered foundational for students wishing to pursue ancient languages. The author of the article argues that cutting these classes would essentially undermine the Department of Ancient Languages, resulting in a lack of comprehensive training in the field. Sólveig emphasizes the importance of keeping these programs alive as they represent a significant part of the school's academic offering, despite financial challenges and dwindling interest in the subjects.

The situation raises broader implications for the future of humanities education in Iceland, particularly the importance of ancient languages in understanding classical literature, history, and culture. As educational authorities contemplate curriculum changes, the need to adapt teaching methods and revitalize interest in these ancient studies becomes increasingly critical, lest such disciplines face extinction in favor of more popular, contemporary subjects.