MARTIN EHALA ⟩ Education officials should be sent to school
The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research proposed the partial elimination of numerical grading in primary and basic schools, highlighting a disconnect between officials and practitioners.
How many hours does a teacher have in a day? Verbal assessments mean writing 150 essays every day
The article discusses the Estonian education ministry's plan to implement verbal assessments in elementary and part of secondary education, highlighting the practical challenges this would entail for teachers.
A new Montessori class will open in Tartu next school year
A new Montessori class will be established in Tartu for the upcoming school year due to increased interest in Montessori education in Estonia.
The plan is to change the grading system in primary schools: "As soon as a student has a grade, they no longer care, as they cannot make sense of learning"
The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research plans to replace traditional grading with verbal assessments in lower grades to better support students from non- Estonian speaking homes.
The new building of Tõnismäe State Gymnasium is expected to be completed by 2030
The Estonian Ministry of Education plans to commence operations in a new building for Tõnismäe State Gymnasium in Tallinn by 2030, with construction set to start by 2028.
EDITORIAL ⟩ Leave the grades alone
The Estonian Ministry of Education's plans to abolish numerical grading in primary education and shift to descriptive assessments have sparked concern about the potential weakening of meritocracy in the education system.
HTM discusses the abolition of the five-point grading system
The Estonian Ministry of Education is planning to replace the five-point grading system with a more diverse verbal assessment system starting in 2035.
HTM: under certain conditions, Russian-language vocational education will still be possible in the future
Estonia's Ministry of Education has clarified that Russian-language vocational education will remain possible under specific conditions despite the primary language of instruction being Estonian.
The Ministry of Education Plans to Revise the National Curricula Again
The Estonian Ministry of Education plans further revisions to the national curricula, initially updated in 2023, focusing on elective course volumes and assessment methods.
Ministry: Extending vocational education creates opportunities to continue in higher education
The Estonian Ministry of Education has announced changes in vocational education to extend the study period to four years, enabling students to pursue higher education more effectively.
Funding Principles of Schools Raise Many Questions in Educational Institutions
The Estonian Ministry of Education has raised questions about the financial responsibilities of schools regarding necessary educational materials and extracurricular activities.
New guide: should schools also purchase drawing tools and skis?
Estonian schools are questioning whether they should purchase additional educational supplies such as drawing tools and sporting equipment, following new guidance from the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education Consolidates and Seeks Leaders
The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research is restructuring its operations amidst significant education reforms, including a reduction in the number of leaders.
Ministry and Trade Union Push Back Against Trucking Companies' Concerns About Driver Shortages
Estonian trucking companies are expressing concerns about a lack of trained drivers, while the Ministry of Education and the transport trade union attribute the issue to low wages and other factors rather than insufficient education programs.
The Ministry of Education Plans to Increase the Number of Higher Education Places
The Estonian Ministry of Education plans to increase higher education places by obtaining an additional 9.7 million euros from the state budget next year.
The Ministry of Education merges two schools in Pärnu
The Estonian Ministry of Education has proposed a plan to merge the Pärnu Vocational Education Centre and the Pärnu Adult Gymnasium, creating the Pärnu Education Centre to start operating in the next school year.
The new information system for entering high school and vocational school was not completed
The Estonian Ministry of Education failed to complete the new nationwide enrollment information system, SAIS3, in time, requiring students to use the old SAIS2 system for this year's admissions.