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In 2009, the Ministry of Education and Research will finish the analyses of the school network in all Estonian counties, including the sources and predictions for the development thereof, and unified criteria will be developed for the regulation of the general education school network.
The curriculum for preschool child care institutions was updated in 2008. The general parts and subject syllabi of the national curricula for basic schools and upper secondary schools must be completed in 2009. The curricula for basic schools and upper secondary schools will be prepared separately. The principles for fields of study will be developed in the curriculum for upper secondary schools.
Estonia’s Teacher Education Strategy for 2009–2013 was approved at the beginning of 2009. Activities will continue with regard to updating legislation related to teachers, including their qualification requirements, evaluation, working hours, vacation, and minimum staff limitations. The planned changes in teacher education support the changes in the organization of education. For example, there will be an increase in the number of students admitted to several subject teacher education programmes in primary and continuing university education. In 2009, national scholarships will be provided for the first time to a hundred students engaged in teacher education programmes. The initial benefits for teachers who have graduated from universities and started work at schools will continue to be paid.
The school safety programme Safe School will be implemented with the aim of decreasing and preventing bullying at school. In addition to the safety provisions included in the new Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, steps will be taken to improve the availability of important instructions and teaching materials on the websites of the Ministry of Education and Research as well as the websites of other institutions.
In order to prevent pupils from dropping out of school, the activities of many European Social Fund programmes will be implemented, and the accessibility of support systems and flexible study options aimed at pupils with special education needs will be increased (activities, standards, etc. established in the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act). The implementation of study counselling and career service systems will improve the availability of specialized support to all pupils. The implementation of the International Baccalaureate curricula will make it easier for people who have studied abroad in other language environments to continue their studies. Furthermore, study and guide materials will be prepared for pupils who study in Estonian language schools and have newly arrived in Estonia or use a native language other than Estonian.
All of the acts and regulations governing this field can be viewed through the electronic version of the State Gazette (www.riigiteataja.ee), and an overview is also available on the website of the Ministry of Education and Research (www.hm.ee).