BabelTallinn

ESTONIA: Instruction of Estonian literature in Estonian language in Russian–medium upper secondary schools[1]

-         As of 1^st September 2007 public Russian-medium upper secondary schools[2] start in form 10 to teach Estonian literature in Estonian language[3].

-         All 58 state-run/ public Russian–medium upper secondary schools have confirmed their readiness to teach Estonian literature in Estonian. In addition, 5 private Russian-medium secondary schools have expressed their wish to instruct Estonian literature in Estonian (Although according to the Basic School and Upper Secondary School Act, private Russian-medium upper secondary schools are not obliged to do so).

-         It is stated in the Basic School and Upper Secondary SchoolAct that the curriculum and organization of studies in non-Estonian medium basic schools (grades 1 to 9) must ensure that graduates have a level of Estonian language skills that enables them to continue their studies in Estonian.

-         The instruction of Estonian literature in Estonian is the beginning of a partial and flexible transition in state-run/ public Russian–medium upper secondary schools (forms 10, 11 and 12). In the framework of the transition at least one subject in Estonian will be introduced per year. Ultimately (in 2011) up to 60 percent of the curriculum will be taught in Estonian.

-         The transition does not affect in any way public Russian–medium basic schools.

-         The transition is demand-driven and aims at offering and guaranteeing equal study and working opportunities for graduates of all public schools.[4] The transition also provides young people whose native language is Russian more possibilities to practice Estonian.

-         The decision of the partial and flexible transition goes back to 1997 when the “Basic School and Upper Secondary School Act” was adopted – therefore the transition should not come as a surprise.

-         In practice the transition to Estonian-medium instruction has started years ago. Already in the academic year 2006/2007 the majority of state-run/ public Russian–medium schools conducted at least one subject in Estonian.

-         At the Russian upper secondary school level it is important to pay attention to studies of Russian language and literature. The number of teaching hours in these subjects will not be reduced.

-         By the end of 2007 the Ministry of Education and Research will decide, by consulting with Russian-medium schools, pupils and their parents, the order of the next subjects to be taught in Estonian. In-service training and re-training of teachers is taking place [those qualified teachers who do not acquire necessary (language) skills on time will not be excluded from school work].

-         Estonian Government is carrying out the transition in close cooperation with Russian schools, pupils and their parents in all aspects of the transition. The goal is to solve any possibly occurring problems [e.g. (re)training of teachers, distribution of information] and to guarantee successful realization of the transition. All interest groups are engaged into decision-making process. 

-         Additional information is available at the website of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research:  http://www.hm.ee/index.php?046922

Background information

for transition to partial Estonian-medium education

in upper secondary school with language of instruction other than Estonian

-         Approximately 33,308 pupils study in Russian-medium schools, which makes 20% of the total number of pupils in Estonia (2006/2007). In 2006/2007 the number of pupils in 9 forms of Russian-medium schools was 3845. A part of them (ordinarily nearly a third) will go to vocational school after finishing basic school.

-         The number of students in Estonia is decreasing significantly. According to the forecasts, by 2012 there will only be between 1500 and 1700 students in the 10th grades of Russian medium gymnasiums (in 2006/2007 the respective number was 2685). [This rapid drop in the number of students is a challenge to Russian medium schools, as it is to Estonian medium schools.]

-         In basic school according to the data of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research for the year 2005/2006 the drop-out rates are quite the same for the Estonian and Russian medium basic schools. In Russian schools – 0, 57% and in Estonian schools – 0, 59%.

-         The aim of the Estonian education system is the preservation of the minority languages and culture. Since 2004, if the mother tongue of the pupil is not the same as the language of instruction at school, it is possible to study the mother tongue as an optional subject if an application is made to the director of a school by the parents of at least 10 pupils with the same mother tongue. The system is successfully working for instance in Sillamäe with Ukrainian language.

-         All students of Russian-medium schools have to take an exam in Estonian as part of their final exams upon graduating from compulsory basic school and upper secondary school. These exams have been integrated with language proficiency exams. That means that upon graduating from the basic school one can get an exam certificate of the basic level and upon graduating from the upper secondary school one can get an exam certificate of the intermediate level of Estonian language proficiency, which graduates can use for applying for citizenship.

-         Language immersion is a form of studies that is being implemented as a national programme in Estonia for better acquisition of Estonian as the second language. Today half of non-Estonian schools apply language immersion methods, and approximately three thousand four hundred children study in language immersion schools and kindergartens.

-         In terms of the language of instruction and levels of education it is possible to study in Estonian and Russian languages at almost all levels of education: general, vocation, higher and adult education. The language of instruction is regulated legislatively only at the level of upper secondary education. As a rule at other levels of education the choice of the language of instruction is made by the owner of the education institution.