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On 19 January 2007, the Government of the Republic approved the Development Plan for the General Education System in 2007−2013, which defines the arranged long-term development objectives and goals of the general education system.
In the spring of 2008, the Government of the Republic approved the national curriculum for preschool childcare institutions, which led to expanding the study of Estonian as a second language in preschool child care institutions, establishing measures related to cooperation with the parents in supporting children’s development and assessing children's development, for example their school readiness, etc. The national curriculum for preschool child care institutions entered into force on 1 September 2008.
Significant development activities related to the education policy will continue in 2009 in order to make it possible for changes to be implemented in the following years. The most important contribution in this regard will be the new Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act which will, among other things, establish the separation of the basic school and upper secondary school level in municipal schools, the new national curriculum and the transition of foreign language upper secondary schools to using Estonian as the language of instruction.
According to the amendment of the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act that entered into force in the summer of 2009, teaching can be organized in schools on the basis of International Baccalaureate Organization programmes if the school has received the corresponding authorization. An IB programme can be implemented in a municipal school or state school if that school also provides instruction on the same level of education according to the national curriculum.
The draft for the new Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act introduces significant changes to the organization of education. The draft establishes the principle of separating the upper secondary school level and basic school level in municipal schools, introduces the general principles of national curricula, prescribes teaching according to the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and considerably specifies the organization of study for pupils with special education needs. The definition of the concept of compulsory school attendance has been updated in the draft and the obligations of the pupil, the parent, the school and the rural municipality or city in guaranteeing the fulfilment of the compulsory school attendance have been established. The draft also includes provisions regarding participation in study and the availability of information regarding pupils’ absences from study organized in school as well as provisions concerning the implementation of sanctions aimed at pupils. New provisions have been added for protecting people’s mental and physical safety and solving emergency situations in schools. The obligation of local governments to participate in covering the operating costs of basic schools under the area of administration of other local governments if the pupils have the opportunity to study in their rural municipality or city of residence has been abolished.
A broad-based discussion will take place in 2009 at the level of the Riigikogu and many interest groups regarding the separation of basic school and upper secondary school levels.
