Museums in Estonia are experiencing a significant decline in school bookings, as expressed by representatives from the Estonian Museum Association. They noted that as of the end of last year, nearly half of the 40 museums surveyed reported a decrease of up to 30% in planned educational programs, with some experiencing reductions exceeding 40%. This decline has raised concerns regarding the communication from the Ministry of Education, which schools feel lacks clarity on when they are allowed to charge students for museum visits and when such activities could be deemed inappropriate.

The decrease in visitations is largely attributed to new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, which appear to discourage schools from taking students on museum trips unless they are explicitly free of charge. The document in question emphasizes that activities linked to the curriculum should not incur costs for students, placing the financial responsibility on school authorities. As a result, many teachers are hesitant to organize trips, fearing potential financial implications or misunderstandings regarding funding.

In response to the situation, museum representatives have reached out to Education Minister Kristina Kallas, asking for clearer communication on the acceptability of curriculum-supporting educational visits. They are advocating for the ministry to officially confirm that such excursions should be considered a natural part of educational activities, thereby allowing museums to work collaboratively with schools and ensure that students have access to rich learning opportunities outside of the classroom.