Tallinn planning to invest close to €300 million to modernize kindergartens

Tallinn's education strategy over the next decade includes a €288 million project to modernize the city's kindergartens. The strategy also states that another four or five general education schools could be opened, costing €50-€100 million.
According to the strategy, it is clear from a prognosis on population that by 2030, kindergarten places will not be needed at the capacity they are currently. A district's demand, the buildings' conditions, size and location is taken into account when planning investments.
An estimated €288 million is necessary to modernize around 100 kindergartens in Tallinn.
In cooperation with developers and the city planning agency, a goal was set to create sufficient methods to find kindergarten places and to develop new kindergartens in large-scale developing residential areas.
According to the Tallinn Education Department, a need for kindergarten places will arise in Noblessner, Kopli and Veerenni in northern Tallinn, and the Mäepealse residential area in Mustamäe.
New kindergartens will be designed with at least 10 groups and construction of a kindergarten will cost approximately €4-€5 million.
The city sees a need for four or five new schools
The Education Department assesses that general education schools last renovated before 2000 have to be reconstructed. In regions where lack of space is seen as temporary, additional spots need to be opened in schools which can be done with modular constructions. In areas where residential buildings are rapidly being developed, schools may have to be built from the ground up.
The education department estimates that demand for four or five new general education schools may come up in the next ten years. Prospective locations for schools could be Kesklinn, Põhja-Tallinn and Haabersti.
In Kesklinn, the department sees an opportunity to use a building at Tartu maantee 23 as a municipality school and to develop a new school near Veerenni. Parts of Noblessner and Pelgulinn in North Tallinn need new schools, and the Pikaliiva residential area in Haabersti, west of the city center, is also the location of a new school.
The minimal size of a school is two parallel classes, assuming there are at least 500 students studying. The development of a school could cost up to €20 million, meaning that the potential investment this decade could reach €100 million.
Three state high schools are planned in the city of Tallinn, with the first one in Mustamäe set to open in 2022; schools in Kolde and Endla streets are set to open in 2023.
All state high schools are designed for 800-1,000 students, with an additional 2,400-3,000 places being made available though changes in the education system.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste