Tõnis Lukas, the Minister of Education and Research, noted that the action plan’s longest point is about ensuring the existence of and motivating expert teachers and school management. “The key person in Estonian-language education is the teacher,” said Lukas. “We can clearly see how basic school graduates’ proficiency in Estonian as a second language is closely linked to how many of their teachers are proficient in the state language at the required level. In order to have a sufficient number of teachers with excellent skills in Estonian, we are increasing the number of people accepted into teachers’ training at universities, creating more flexible ways of studying, providing language training to educational workers and motivating teachers to enter into and stay in the profession. Transitioning all schools and preschools in Estonia to Estonian-language education is in the interest of the children and young people. The state offers its varied support to all parties in order to ensure a smooth transition.”
A minimum salary coefficient of 1.5 (1.3 in primary education) will apply to all teachers teaching in Estonian in Ida-Viru County from September 2023. The following motivational package is currently being created for teachers who are going to work in Ida-Viru County: a targeted scholarship for university students, a starting allowance with a coefficient of 1.3 and the provision of the starting allowance to special educators, provision of housing at discounted rates, etc. Language learning and advanced training in language learning techniques, integrating the teaching of language and other subjects, etc. will be provided to all educational workers. Training to increase awareness of multicultural learning will also be provided. Various professional improvement projects will be directed at people responsible for school management. The coalition agreement, which mandates a pay rise for teachers, also helps contribute to new people entering the teaching profession. Next year, the average gross salary of teachers will increase from the current rough estimate of 97% to 111% of Estonia’s average salary. The goal is to reach al least 125% of Estonia’s average salary.
Different support measures will be available for schools and preschools both for conducting Estonian lessons and Estonian-language instruction. Support measures for class groups outside of Ida-Viru County that are transitioning to Estonian-language education are being added. The state also supports preschools and schools in acquiring teaching materials for pupils whose native language is not Estonian. New language level tests, educational materials and a new electronic platform for teaching materials in preschool education are being created. Existing methodological and teaching materials will be mapped and systematised. New language technology tools to facilitate the teaching and learning of Estonian as a second language will also be introduced.
Supervision of language learning and the language of instruction will be expanded starting from this academic year. The Language Inspectorate will be included in the supervision of preschool, general and vocational education. From academic year 2023/2024, the state will be providing consulting services to help facilitate the transition to Estonian-language education.
To further the goal of supporting Estonian-language education, we will be signing administrative contracts with municipalities in which the state will assume the administration of schools. The state became the administrator of Narva Estonian-language High School in September 2021 and of Kohtla-Järve Järve School in September 2022. Negotiations with the City of Sillamäe are ongoing and negotiations with Lüganuse Parish have been initiated.
The action plan to transition to Estonian-language education also includes evaluating and, if necessary, amending existing legal norms and complementing legal acts. The national curricula for preschool child care institutions, basic schools and high schools are currently being amended.
Today the government approved and forwarded to the Parliament a bill that will make amendments necessary for the transition. The acts that will be amended are the Basic and High School Education Act, the Preschool Child Care Institutions Act, the Vocational Educational Institutions Act, the Private Schools Act and the Language Act.
The transition to Estonian as the language of instruction will take place in preschools and will start in the first and fourth grades in 2024. The transition will be finished by the beginning of the 2029/2030 academic year. The reform will affect those vocational school students who are following the secondary vocational education curriculum.
