Estonia’s education success: the school model behind it
Estonia consistently performs well in international education assessments. In PISA 2022, the country placed first in Europe across all assessed fields – and among the top performers globally. But what explains these results? Rather than pointing to a single reform, Estonian educators describe their success through what they call the Estonian school model – a […]
Global teacher survey: Estonian teachers spend more time on learning than on discipline
The OECD has released the 2024 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), offering valuable insights into teachers’ working conditions, professional growth, and job satisfaction worldwide. In Estonia, 3,338 lower secondary teachers (grades 7–9) and 191 school leaders participated. Key findings for Estonia High professional satisfaction: 93% of Estonian teachers report being satisfied with their profession, […]
New online course offers insight into Estonia’s education system
Estonia’s education system has attracted wide international interest, with hundreds of delegations visiting every year. To provide a more systematic overview, we are introducing a new online course in English: “Understanding Estonia’s Education System”, available on Udemy. Estonia’s education system has gained international recognition for strong PISA results and for pioneering the use of digital […]
Estonia helps Moldova rethink education
Estonia is helping Moldova strengthen its first line of defense — not on the battlefield, but in the classroom. Author: Marian Männi Russia targets Ukraine with bullets, but Moldova is fighting them on another front, facing down weaponised misinformation. “We are at the frontline in the fight for freedom and democracy,” says Dan Perciun, Moldova’s […]
Finding balance: smart device use in schools
Estonian schools adopt consistent guidelines over outright smartphone bans, balancing digital freedom with social interaction. In Estonia, the debate around smart device use in schools is gaining attention. While the Ministry of Social Affairs recently suggested limiting smartphone use outside of lessons, many schools have already taken a proactive approach, opting for consistent guidelines rather […]
Science Kitchen – the tastiest education in town
At first glance, it is a beautiful space. Situated in the harbor-facing Mare building on Tallinn University‘s seaside campus, the Institute of Natural and Health Sciences’ Science Kitchen is located on the first floor in a room approximately 100 square meters, or about 1,100 square feet. With high ceilings and windows on every side, one feels […]
Estonian students rank first in Europe and among the top globally in PISA creative thinking study
Today, the results of the PISA 2022 Creative Thinking test, conducted as part of the larger PISA study, were released in all participating countries. The Creative Thinking study involved 64 countries, and Estonian students achieved 1st place in Europe and ranked between 5th and 8th globally. Liina Põld, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of […]
A new chapter in Estonian education: Uniting through instruction language
‘We have been preparing for a long time to switch teaching to Estonian. This aims to give all children the chance to get a quality education in Estonian, create equal job chances, and improve how well we all get along,’ says Ingar Dubolazov, head of the transition to teaching in Estonian at the Ministry of […]
Exploring Estonian education: insights from the field’s experts
Education Estonia’s video presentations have been expanded with six new videos featuring experts who provide insights into the key aspects of its education system. These videos address the very questions frequently asked by visiting education specialists in Estonia. The significant value of these videos is found in the voices of the practitioners themselves – those […]
New book: In-depth analysis of the Estonian education system
In the new case study, widely respected Estonian educational experts share their understanding of the factors behind Estonia’s successful educational outcomes. The recently published book, “Aim High and Work Hard. Building a World-Class Learning System in Estonia,” authored by renowned Estonian education scholars Eve Eisenschmidt, Mati Heidmets, Maie Kitsing, Mikk Kasesalk, and Kätlin Vanari presents […]
