The corona pandemic has also left its mark on Estonia’s schools – but the country is still ahead in the European comparison of the PISA study. One of the reasons: learning together up to the 9th grade.
Math lessons in Estonia at the Jüri School near Tallinn: The children who learn together here are neither at a high school nor at a secondary school. Because in Estonia everyone learns together up to the 9th grade. That’s how long there has been a so-called unified school – similar to a German primary school. Pupils are not divided early according to ability level. This is one of the most important reasons for educational success, according to the Estonian PISA expert Gunda Tire.
“We make sure that everyone keeps up with our children,” says Tire. “Those who need more help benefit from individual support.” So-called advice centers have been set up for this purpose. There is nothing comparable in Europe.
Individual support as the key to educational success
This individual support for individuals would ultimately lead to fewer weak students – but a strong top class with very good academic performance, according to the expert.
Learning goals are set in the curricula, but in the end teacher Carolina Remmet can decide for herself how she will structure her lessons – tailored to the needs of the class.
“Of course the students have to achieve certain levels of achievement,” says Remmet. “But I decide how they do it. I have a textbook and a plan. But I can always decide the order myself.”
Estonia’s performance in the PISA study
Pupils in Estonia perform slightly worse in mathematics (510 points) and reading (511 points) than in 2018 (523 points each in math and reading). The results in the natural sciences are about the same. Compared to 2012, the proportion of students scoring below the basic proficiency level (level 2) in mathematics has increased by four percentage points; by four percentage points in reading; and by five percentage points in the natural sciences.
Great trust in teachers and schools
There is a lot of trust in the individual teacher when it comes to teaching lessons – but salaries are very low in what is already an economically weak country. A shortage of teachers is also an issue here.
How many teachers teach at a school or how many schools there are in a community – these questions are not answered in the ministry either, but are decided locally.
Kindergarten as Educational institution
Kristina Kallas, the current education minister and member of the Liberal Party, doesn’t just want to talk about schools when it comes to education issues. The most important basic requirements are already created in kindergarten. “Preparing children for learning and for the education system is already part of early childhood education,” says Kallas.
“Three-quarters of our two-year-olds go to preschool – that is a kindergarten that we see as an educational institution: with a curriculum and qualification requirements for teachers,” explains the minister.
Inflation impacts families
But in the end, the pandemic also left its mark on exemplary Estonia. Inflation was sometimes almost 20 percent and that of course had an impact on families, according to the PISA expert Tire.
“It takes a whole village for a child to thrive – this saying still applies today. School cannot take on all the responsibilities of a family,” emphasizes Tire. “Normally, family values and other important things are taught at home. There are studies that show that an important component of education is having dinner together at home.” But society as a whole must also help.
However, Estonia had one advantage during the pandemic: the advanced digitalization in the education system meant that the switch to homeschooling was relatively silent.
Sofie Donges, ARD Stockholm, tagesschau, December 5th, 2023 10:00 a.m