In the academic year of 2024/2025, kindergartens and grades 1–4 of primary schools will be the first to switch to teaching in Estonian.
In Estonia, in the new school year, all first-graders and kindergarten groups will study only in Estonian. This was announced by the Minister of Education Christina Callas.
“The new school year is historic for the Estonian education system. This year, for the first time since the restoration of Estonia’s independence, Estonian education will begin in all first grades – a total of 15,000 students going to first grade,” he said.
As you know, in 2022, the President of Estonia Alar Karis approved changes to the law “On Basic and Secondary Schools” and other laws on the transition to teaching Russian in Estonian schools as the language of instruction.
According to the updated law, in the academic year of 2024/2025, kindergartens and 1st to 4th grades of primary schools will be the first to switch to teaching in Estonian. Schools are required to ensure the transition to Estonian-language education in the 10th grade no later than the 2030/2031 school year, in the 11th grade no later than the 2031/2032 school year, and in the 12th grade not later than the 2032/2033 school year.
Until recently, in Estonia, where about 25 percent of the Russian-speaking population lives, children had the right to study up to grade 9 in schools of national minorities in their own language. In high school, more than 60 percent of school subjects are taught in the state language and about 40 percent in Russian.
However, not all parents are happy with the state’s educational reform in private schools with Russian as the language of instruction increased this year.
“If usually on September 1 (…) about 20 children try to enter different classes with us, then this year there are already about 50, and we have to reject many of them Each one is there are various reasons, but the most common one today is that the parent understands “that the child, for one reason or another, will not be able to cope with the program in full Estonian,” says Julia Stolberova, co-founder of the private Vivere school, on Estonian Television.
In August 2023, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement of UN special rapporteurs, according to which the restriction of the opportunity to receive education in Russian in Estonia is contrary to international human rights treaty.
It was previously reported that in Estonian schools there will be fewer classes for Ukrainian children, where education is conducted in Ukrainian and Estonian. The Estonian Ministry of Education believes that Ukrainian children are ready to study with their Estonian peers, especially since the parents themselves want their children to receive a local education.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.