Party Plans Extending Estonian Language to Minority Kindergartens
In light of coming parliamentary elections, the Reform Party revealed on December 19 its policy plans for ethnic minorities, which propose optional but available Estonian-language education already at the kindergarten level.
"It is very important to boost competitiveness on the job market for ethnic minorities in Estonia, especially among the youth. Speaking the Estonian language is a prerequisite to success in Estonia," said member of parliament Paul-Eerik Rummo.
The plan also reiterates support for the coming transition to an Estonian-language curriculum for Russian-curriculum upper secondary schools. A legacy of Soviet times, Estonia has traditionally had separate high school curricula catering to Estonian and Russian-speaking cultures. Next year, Russian-curriculum upper secondary schools are required to teach 60 percent of their material in Estonian, a reform that has met with mixed reaction.
"The Estonian language should be taught every day in Russian-language schools and kindergartens. It is our big concern that the [ethnic minorities] wishing to attain a higher education continue their studies at Estonian universities," said Rummo.
The Reform Party proposal also emphasized quality in second-language learning.