Policy Document

Education Act of Estonian SSR

Year

1974

Country

Estonia

Topic

Education

Subtopic

Compulsory Schooling

Keywords

Compulsory education Educational policy Educational systems Formal education Schooling

Main implications

The Education Act of Estonian SSR (1974) renewed the legal basis for the educational system in Estonia, from preschool to university education. Following the enforcement of the 1974 Education Act, in 1977 the curricula of secondary schools were altered: The role of vocational training was increased, the Russian language was taught from the first year, and the number of foreign languages, drawing, mathematics, and physics classes was decreased. The new constitutions of the Soviet Union (1977) and Estonian SSR (1978) proclaimed the transition to compulsory upper secondary education. In 1981, the Communist Party declared that the transition was completed; however, in reality this aim was never fully achieved.

Benefits & Requirements

Coverage: Eligible groups or beneficiaries

All resident children of compulsory school age.

Age range

7 - 16

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

ISCED levels included in compulsory education

ISCED levels 1-2

Is educational tracking implemented or modified by this document?

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

Compulsory school teachers were trained in universities, pedagogical institutes and other institutions of tertiary education. In some fields, the training was also provided in specialised secondary education institutions. The usual duration of teacher’s education amounted to 15-16 years.

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

Foreign citizens and stateless persons were granted rights equal to the citizens of the Soviet Union; no special provision was made for children of undocumented immigrants. Undocumented international migration was not an issue in the Soviet Union

Implementing Text & Related Legislation

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

Eesti NSV Haridusseadus

Date of passage/approval

26^th April 1974

Date of signature

26^th April 1974

Date of publication

7^th June 1974

Are the effects retroactive?

Date of effect

1^st September 1974

Actors

Ministry of Education; educational institutions

Financing

Schools were financed from the state budget; compulsory education was free of charge

Earlier related reforms

The Republic of Estonia Public Elementary Schools Act (Riigi Teataja 1920, 75/76) introduced compulsory education of six years; enrolment was compulsory for children from eight to 16 years of age. The new law on public elementary schools (RT 1931, 46, 348) restated the six-year compulsory education, from age eight to 16. From 1934 to 1940, the upper age limit of compulsory school attendance was 14 years of age (amendments to 1931 law on public elementary schools: RT 1931, 46, 348). In 1940, the Republic of Estonia was incorporated into the Soviet Union, where a different school system existed. In 1941, the Order of the Council of People’s Commissar of the Estonian SSR no.931 (Eesti NSV Teataja 1941, 55, 867) introduced a compulsory education of seven years; enrolment was compulsory for children from seven years of age until the completion of compulsory education, or until their 16th birthday (in the case of non-completion). In the period of Nazi occupation, from 1941–44, compulsory education in Estonian was provided according to pre-war regulations. The Sovietisation of the Estonian education system took place in 1944 when Estonia fell under Soviet rule. In 1959–63, the seven-year compulsory education was replaced with eight-year compulsory education (Eesti NSV Teataja 1959, 31, 164); the age range of compulsory education remained unaltered (seven to 16 years of age). The duration of upper secondary education was three years, except in Russian-language schools in Estonia. These schools followed the curricula of the Russian Federation with a duration of upper secondary education of two years. In the early 1960s, the importance of practical training and polytechnic studies was emphasised; accordingly, the elements of vocational training were introduced into the eight-year compulsory education curriculum. The network of evening schools and correspondence schools was significantly expanded in order to allow more people to attain upper secondary education. In the second half of the 1960s, universal upper secondary education was proclaimed the goal of educational policies.

Other related legislation

Regulation of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR no. 436 "Guidelines for record-keeping on children in compulsory school age“ (Eesti NSV Teataja 1975, 40, 475); “Law on the further development of education system in the Estonian SSR and on the strengthening of ties between school and life” (Eesti NSV Teataja 1959, 31, 164); Order of the Council of People’s Commissar of the Estonian SSR “Guidelines for record-keeping on children in compulsory school age" (Eesti NSV Teataja 1945, 29, 446); The Regulation of the Council of People’s Commissars on the public education system of the Estonian SSR and activity of educational institutions (Eesti NSV Teataja 1941, 55, 867).

Read the Law

Original full text source in native language

Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu ja Valitsuse Teataja 1974, 23, 201

Secondary Literature & Sources

Secondary literature

Helemäe, J. and Saar, E. (1999). The Estonian education system in the second half of the 20th century: opportunities and choices for the cohorts. In: Vetik, R. (ed). Estonian Human Development Report. Tallinn: TPU Institute of International and Social Studies, 84–92.
Kera, S. (1996). Education in Estonia: Historical overview to 1991. Tallinn: Estonian Ministry of Education
Nagel, V. (2006). Hariduspoliitika ja üldhariduskorraldus Eestis aastatel 1940-1991. [Die Bildungspolitik und das Allgemeinbildungswesen in Estland in den jahren 1940–1991]. Dissertations on Social Sciences No.22, Tallinn University.
Sirk, Väino (2007). Educational ideology and professional middle class in Soviet Estonia in the 1950s–1980s. Acta Historica Tallinnensia, 11: 96–114. http://www.kirj.ee/public/Acta_hist/2007/acta-2007-1-6.pdf

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/06General_education/06General_education.asp.