As the new school year begins, Estonia has embarked on a landmark educational reform, with Latvia following in its footsteps in two academic years’ time, in a move that will see the gradual phasing out of the parallel Russian-language education system, a remnant of the Soviet era.
For the first time in the country’s modern history, all first-grade classes and preschool groups will begin education entirely in Estonian, marking a significant shift in the nation's approach to education, Poland’s national press agency, PAP reported.
“This is a historic moment, as for the first time in independent Estonia, all first-grade classes and preschool groups will begin education in Estonian,” the country’s Ministry of Education said on Monday.
The reform, spearheaded by Minister of Education Kristina Kallas, is intended to unify the education system and ensure that all students, regardless of their native language, have equal opportunities to succeed.
“This is a new path that, in ten years, will hopefully lead us to a future where we no longer segregate children based on their native language within the education system, and everyone will have equal opportunities to continue their education and succeed in life,” said Minister Kallas.
The transition to Estonian-language lessons will be implemented gradually. By 2030, the government aims to complete the reform across all grade levels.
However, the process faces challenges, particularly in regions like the eastern city of Narva, where most of the population speak Russian. Teachers who previously taught in Russian have been required to obtain proficiency certificates in Estonian, although the Ministry of Education reports that over 500 teachers have yet to meet the new language requirements.
Latvia is planning a similar educational reform, set to begin in the 2026/2027 school year. In the meantime, other changes are being introduced. The country has introduced mandatory national defense classes for high school students starting this September. The curriculum, approved by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s government, includes civic activities, crisis behavior, and practical skills such as terrain orientation and marksmanship.
“This is a historic moment, as for the first time in independent Estonia, all first-grade classes and preschool groups will begin education in Estonian,” the country’s Ministry of Education said on Monday.
The reform, spearheaded by Minister of Education Kristina Kallas, is intended to unify the education system and ensure that all students, regardless of their native language, have equal opportunities to succeed.
“This is a new path that, in ten years, will hopefully lead us to a future where we no longer segregate children based on their native language within the education system, and everyone will have equal opportunities to continue their education and succeed in life,” said Minister Kallas.
The transition to Estonian-language lessons will be implemented gradually. By 2030, the government aims to complete the reform across all grade levels.
However, the process faces challenges, particularly in regions like the eastern city of Narva, where most of the population speak Russian. Teachers who previously taught in Russian have been required to obtain proficiency certificates in Estonian, although the Ministry of Education reports that over 500 teachers have yet to meet the new language requirements.
Changes in Latvia
Latvia is planning a similar educational reform, set to begin in the 2026/2027 school year. In the meantime, other changes are being introduced. The country has introduced mandatory national defense classes for high school students starting this September. The curriculum, approved by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s government, includes civic activities, crisis behavior, and practical skills such as terrain orientation and marksmanship.
“The knowledge gained from this subject is considered good preparation for times of crisis,” said Siliņa.
The new classes will primarily focus on practical training, with exercises conducted in various locations, from gymnasiums to parks, although implementation may be more challenging in urban areas like Riga.
“Most of the class time will be dedicated to training,” Colonel Aivis Mirbah, director of the Latvian National Guard Youth Center (Jaunsardze) said in an interview with Latvian Radio 1.
Prior to this nationwide rollout, national defense lessons were offered voluntarily in many schools as part of a pilot program introduced several years ago.
The new classes will primarily focus on practical training, with exercises conducted in various locations, from gymnasiums to parks, although implementation may be more challenging in urban areas like Riga.
“Most of the class time will be dedicated to training,” Colonel Aivis Mirbah, director of the Latvian National Guard Youth Center (Jaunsardze) said in an interview with Latvian Radio 1.
Prior to this nationwide rollout, national defense lessons were offered voluntarily in many schools as part of a pilot program introduced several years ago.
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