The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (HTM) is contemplating a significant shift in the grading system used in primary education, aiming to implement a unified verbal assessment method commencing in 2035. This move intends to dismantle the traditional five-point grading system, which has been prevalent in Estonia, in favor of a more nuanced approach that emphasizes verbal feedback to students over numerical scores. The ministry believes that a comprehensive verbal evaluation can better support student learning and development.

Currently, schools in Estonia have considerable autonomy regarding their assessment methods, and the usage of grading systems varies widely across the country. While some schools, such as those in Tartu, have successfully utilized verbal feedback for nearly a decade, many others still rely on numerical, letter-based, or percentage-based grading. Regardless of the method, students are required to have their performance converted into the five-point scale by the time they complete compulsory education, highlighting a discrepancy in assessment approaches that the ministry aims to rectify with this new proposal.

By transitioning to a system that prioritizes verbal assessments in grades one through three, the ministry hopes to encourage a focus on constructive feedback rather than grades. Research indicates that when students receive additional grading symbols alongside verbal feedback, they often fixate on the numerical score, diminishing the value of the feedback provided. This initiative reflects a broader educational trend that seeks to promote holistic development in students by prioritizing understanding and improvement over mere scores.