In the first phase of the project, 20,000 school pupils in grades 10 and 11, as well as their 3,000 teachers will get access to the best AI learning applications, staring from September 1, 2025.

Thereafter, TI-Hüpe will be extended to vocational schools and new 10th grade students, covering an additional 38,000 students and 2,000 teachers from 2026.

President Alar Karis, one of the main initiators of the project, said: "While nearly 30 years ago the Tiigrihüpe (tiger Leap) program launched the development of e-Estonia, through which we are still known internationally, Estonia is now beginning a new chapter in the development of its education system and digital society."

"Artificial Intelligence has permanently changed the world and, like all sectors, the education system must adapt to change," said President Karis.

"Let's not learn to use AI the most, but the smartest. If we adopt the best available learning technology in our education system, it will help us to become one of the smartest nations in the world. This is the next stage in the development of e-Estonia, which will bring smart solutions to all areas and boost the international competitiveness of Estonians and the Estonian economy," said Karis.

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200), stressed that the competitiveness of the Estonian economy depends on how well the country can prepare young people for the age of the digital economy. To do this, education  has to equip students with the practical skills needed to use Artificial Intelligence, which will be essential for the future labor market.

However, everything has to start with training teachers. "It is the teacher, not the student, who has to shape the process," said Kallas.

"If we want the digital divide to support not only learning, but also the growth of our economy, we need to invest in teacher training. Well-prepared teachers will be able to make smart use of Artificial Intelligence's potential in schools," said Kallas.

Half of the funding will come from the private sector

TI-Hüpe is a collaborative project between the President's Digital Advisory Council, the Ministry of Education and Research and a number of private sector representatives.

"We are planning to create a joint foundation, because in addition to public money, it will also involve private funds, on a 50-50 basis. The project ought to have an annual budget of €6.5 million to be able to train teachers on a permanent basis, and there is also a need for a support structure for the schools that are already using AI. The foundation will not be a one-off trainer, but will run the program for the next four years. Once those four years are over, we will see whether to go ahead with the foundation or whether the state takes over the system as a whole," said Kallas.

Linnar Viik, a founding member of TI-Hüpe 2025 and one of the initiators of Tiger Leap, said that the interest of businesses in funding the project is that it will help produce smarter workers.

"The smartest workers create new value. The only asset a company has is the hope that these smart people will come and work for their company for one more day, one more week or one more month and help create more value. That's the only way entrepreneurs can survive," said Viik.

"Education is the answer to so many issues. More education is better than less education. After all, we would all like to see smart people continuing to build businesses in Estonia in a hundred years' time," said Kristina Siimar, CEO of investment company Skaala.

TI-Hüpe 2025 is inspired by the Tiger Leap (Tiigrihüpe), with the name of the program deriving from the Estonian word for artificial intelligence.

President introduces program on Independence Day

President Karis refenced the introduction of the program in his Independence Day speech made on Monday, February 24.

He said: "Using new technology, we might accomplish what educational specialists have been dreaming of: to give each student the opportunity to study according to a personalized program. It is the development of cognitive ability, not simply memorizing existing knowledge, that lies at the heart of education."

"As a continuation of that thought, I invited Estonian entrepreneurs who have created unicorns to visit me and discuss ways to provide our economy new impetuses for development. During that conversation, it was suggested that we offer every Estonian pupil unlimited access to the newest and best AI models."

The plan is to be addressed at a meeting on Tuesday, he added.

"That casual idea grew wings, and tomorrow, Estonian entrepreneurs, educators, and the minister of education and research will gather in Kadriorg at my invitation to officially launch a new educational program. We will start with high schools. Already next autumn, digital educational tools and language models will find their way to tens of thousands of students across Estonia."

"We will start with the high schools. This fall, digital learning materials and language models will reach tens of thousands of students in Estonia," President Karis added.

The initiative will equip students with cutting-edge digital tools that will enhance their learning experience and prepare them for a future shaped by technological advancements, he said.

"Today, we face the arrival of the next revolutionary technology. In the early years of the internet's mass proliferation, we had no idea that social networks and the e-state would become central parts of our everyday lives; similarly, we cannot foresee right now how artificial intelligence will ultimately transform our world. But let us acknowledge one thing: the transformation will be enormous."

This requires educators to be early adopters of AI, the head of state added in his speech, noting that he had already called for getting acquainted with AI this time last year.

"To learn – students and teachers alike – how to use it to make our lives run more smoothly and create advantageous solutions together. I said that pupils should be guaranteed access to our new helpers so that the 'tiger' gains fresh momentum to leap so far and so high that it rises into flight."

The president framed this initiative within a broader vision of national progress, stating: "We must reevaluate our understandings of learning and adopt new opportunities and technological solutions. Changes to education will guarantee a long-term outcome and effect."

The president also drew a parallel between Estonia's past success with the internet and the current opportunity with AI, urging the same visionary approach to harness this disruptive technology. He invited entrepreneurs to discuss how AI can drive economic growth, stressing that the shift is not just about introducing new tools but rethinking the entire approach to learning.

--

Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!