Policy Document

Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act

Year

2010

Country

Estonia

Topic

Education

Subtopic

Compulsory Schooling

Keywords

Compulsory education Educational policy Educational systems Formal education Schooling

Main implications

The Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, approved in June 2010, is part of the major quality-oriented reform package which included the approval of the new national basic school and upper secondary school curriculum, the restructuring of upper secondary schools as separate entities (from basic schools) with different educational aims and quality criteria (e.g. introducing wider choices for students, agreeing on minimum standards for the learning environment, etc.), and the provision of wider support services for all students (counselling and guidance services). In 2013, the Riigikogu (Parliament) adopted amendments to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act. The aim of the amendments was to improve the quality and attractiveness of general education and to prevent and reduce the school drop-out rate. Among others, state-supported gymnasiums will be established in each county, which allows the concentration of local governments' educational expenditures on basic schools.

Benefits & Requirements

Coverage: Eligible groups or beneficiaries

All resident children of compulsory school age.

Age range

7 - 17

Duration (numbers of years of compulsory education stipulated by this document)

ISCED levels included in compulsory education

ISCED levels 1-2

Dedication (number of hours per week stipulated by this document)

Students` weekly academic workload by subjects is laid down in the school curriculum. The maximum number of lessons of a basic school student is as follows: grade 1:20 lessons; grade 2:23 lessons; grades 3 and 4:25 lessons; grade 5:28 lessons; grades 6 and 7:30 lessons; grades 8 and 9:32 lessons

Is educational tracking implemented or modified by this document?

Education and training required for a compulsory school teacher stipulated by this document

Teachers are trained in universities and university colleges. Teachers must undergo at least 160 hours of in-service training in five years. Specific qualification requirements for teachers are established by a regulation of the Minister of Education and Research

Is the compulsory education of children of undocumented migrants granted by this document?

The legislation does not include special provision for children of undocumented migrants. The rural municipality or the city will all provide children subject to the duty to attend school who reside in the territory of the rural municipality or the city w

Implementing Text & Related Legislation

Original name of the legal document/act (native language)

Põhikooli- ja gümnaasiumiseadus

Date of passage/approval

9^th June 2010

Date of signature

9^th June 2010

Are the effects retroactive?

Date of effect

1^st September 2010

Actors

Ministry of Education and Research; local governments; educational institutions

Financing

The basic and upper secondary school’s operating costs will be covered by the school manager (in most cases, local governments). Municipal schools are eligible for the state subsidy to be used for covering expenses for teachers’ salaries, social taxes, training, and textbooks. Similar subsidies are also made available to private general education schools.

Earlier related reforms

The Republic of Estonia Education Act (1992) stipulated that the duration of compulsory (basic) education is nine years. The age of compulsory education ranged from seven to 17.

Other related legislation

The rights and duties related to acquiring basic education are regulated by several legal acts: The Constitution of Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariigi Põhiseadus) determines the right to education (http://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/530102013003/consolide); The Child Protection Act determines the right of a child to education, freedom of study, and the principles of instruction (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/531102014002/consolide); The Education Act defines the different levels of education, including basic education, the principles of management and organisation of the education system, compulsory school attendance, and also determines the types of educational institutions; the standard of basic education is determined by the National Curriculum for Basic Schools (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/129082014020); framework requirements for teacher training (Õpetajate koolituse raamnõuded): https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/128082013002; Private Schools Act (Erakooliseadus): http://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/129062014021 http://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/530062014001/consolide.

Read the Law

Original full text source in native language

Riigi Teataja (State Gazette) RT I 2010, 41, 240 (last amendements Riigi TeatajaRT I, 15.03.2014,37)

Full text web source in English

https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/526082014004/consolide

Original full text web source in native language

https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/115032014037

Secondary Literature & Sources

Secondary literature

- Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). "Organisation of the education system in Estonia. Eurydice 2009/2010". European Commission, 2010. Available at: http://www.tpi.ee/digiope/hariduskorraldus/european_documents/Organisation of education system.pdf
- OECD. "Reviews of national policies for education: Estonia 2001". OECD, Paris, 2001. Available at: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/1401041e.pdf
-OECD. "Education at a glance: OECD education indicators 2013. Estonia. Country note". OECD, Paris. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/edu/Estonia_EAG2013 Country Note.pdf
- UNESCO. "World Data on Education". 7th Edition 2010/2011, Paris, 2011. Available at: http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/WDE/2010/pdf-versions/Estonia.pdf
- Jõgi, L. "Understanding lifelong learning and adult education policy in Estonia – tendencies and contradictions". Journal of Adult and Continuing Education 18(2) (2012): 44–61.

Links to databases and sources for the analysis or evaluation of this policy field

Statistics Estonia (2014). Statistical database. Education: http://www.pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/I_Databas/Social_Life/02EDUCATION/02EDUCATION.asp; ENIC/NARIC, the Estonian Academic Recognition Information Centre: http://www.archimedes.ee/enic -information on the Estonian education system; EHIS, the Estonian Education Information System–School-level data (in Estonian): http://www.ehis.ee; Centre for Educational Research and Curriculum Development. University of Tartu: http://www.ut.ee/curriculum/index.aw/set_lang_id=1; EURYDICE, the Information Network on National Education Systems and Policies in Europe: http://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/index_en.php; UNESCO, the International Bureau of Education: http://www.ibe.unesco.org/links.htm.