Minister-Elect Proposes Higher Requirements for State Schools
Compulsory general education must implement a new system of minimum requirements for students, according to the minister-elect of education Jaak Aaviksoo.
Supervision over the education system has been weak, the outgoing Defense Minister told ERR radio. "We have been dealing with quantity more than quality," he explained.
The education system relies too much on competition for setting balances in place, said Aaviksoo, adding that not enough attention has been given to students who are not among the best in meeting the requirements of their compulsory curriculum. "No one wants to answer that question. We must ensure minimum standards for education, below which the society must not descend," he said.
Aaviksoo signaled a continuance of the outgoing education minister's policies toward language in schools. A controversial new mandate states that 60 percent of classes in Russian-language schools must be taught in Estonian beginning September 1. "We must be flexible and understanding of the details because ultimately we want everyone to feel comfortable and to believe in the final result. One thing is clear - it will not be easy," he said.
Aaviksoo also sees a problem in the large number of universities in Estonia, although their number has dropped from 37 in 2004 to 31 in 2011.
Ingrid Teesalu