Education system in Estonia

Estonia follows a comprehensive school system which is aimed to provide all students with the best education, regardless of their background.

Estonia follows a comprehensive school system that is aimed to provide all students with the best education, regardless of their background.

Schools in Estonia enjoy quite extended autonomy. The national curriculum leaves space for the school to develop their own curriculum. All schools can decide on their goals and the focus of studies. Principals can hire and fire teachers, decide on how to allocate the budget and evaluate the needs for teacher training. Teachers decide on the textbooks and teaching methods that they consider appropriate and would like to use in their lessons.

In Estonia, education by law is for free, unless the parents decide otherwise and choose private schools for their children. Apart from free services, such as lunch, textbooks, school transport, students get supporting services if needed.

The length of the study period consists of at least 175 teaching days (35 weeks) and four intervals of school breaks.

According to the child’s interests, the child may also be enrolled in a hobby school.

Vocational education

Vocational education serves the purpose of fostering the knowledge, skills and attitudes, occupational know-how and the social readiness required for working, participating in social life and participating in the lifelong learning process. Vocational education can be obtained: after basic school as vocational secondary education (length: 3-4 years) or as vocational skills only without general education (length: 3 months to 2.5 years).

⦁ Vocational education is free of charge, regardless of age, educational background, and individual needs.

⦁ There are close collaborations with companies in curriculum development and in creating opportunities for apprenticeship.

⦁ Moving from vocational education to higher education and vice versa is becoming increasingly popular.