Legislation
In 1997, it was specified in the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act that the transition to Estonian-language instruction in Russian-language schools at the upper secondary school level would start no later than 1 September 2007.
On 7th of June 2007, the government approved an amendment to the National Curriculum for Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools, whereby Estonian-language instruction in at least the Estonian Literature course in the subject of Literature would be started in the 10th grades of Russian-language schools on 1st of September 2007.
On 22nd of November 2007, the government approved an amendment to the National Curriculum for Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools, whereby the order of the compulsory subjects to be taught in Estonian were determined until the 2011/2012 academic year (see the explanatory memorandum for the regulation).
The activities supporting the transition have been in the plan of action, which will become a part of the “Development Plan for the General Education System for 2007–2013”.
The Minister of Education and Research signed a directive on 13th of November 2007, whereby those Russian-language schools that have implemented more Estonian-language instruction than required by the national curriculum will received additional support. An additional the Ministry will provide EEK 70,000 for each additional compulsory subject that is taught in Estonian.
