Estonia Exposed

Introduction

The Republic of Estonia is a small nation in Northern Europe located south of Finland and Sweden and north of Latvia and Lithuania, and borders Russia to the east. This juxtaposition has caused both strife and accord in the region historically and currently. To help ease the strife and uncertainty, they became members of NATO, the EU, and the United Nations. The total area of the country is 45,227 km2 with a population of approximately 1.3 million people (See Map Below).

The country is well situated economically on the world stage. They place 41st on the list of? richest countries. Approximately 61 percent of their economy comes from the service sector, followed by industry at 24 percent, and a small percentage from agriculture. They are one of the most wired countries technologically in the world. Inflation is on the downturn from 19.4% in 2022 to 4.2% in 2024. The euro is their currency.?

Estonia is one of 38 OECD nations participating in PISA testing. In 2022, the nation placed fourth on the list of best performers in mathematics, reading, and science, with mean scores of 525, 511, and 526, respectively. Additionally, the republic is 4th in media literacy and 1st in digital learning (CEPS, 2019, 2022). The nation-state is considered highly equitable and resilient.

Map of Estonia

Brief History

Estonia dates back to the Bronze Age, similar to one of its closest neighbors, Finland. In many respects, their histories are similar up to, and including, the aftermath of WWII. They were both under Russian rule and later gained full independence.?

The Enlightenment period from the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries led to Estonia’s national awakening. Following the Russian Revolution in 1917 and WWI in 1918, Estonia declared its independence, which set the stage for the birth of a new nation. The Estonian War of Independence fought against Russia and Germany led to the Tartu Peace Treaty, recognizing Estonia as a sovereign nation.?

During WWII, and despite their sovereignty, Estonia was illegally occupied by the Russian army on June 17, 1940, annexing the country. Subsequently, the country became known as the Soviet Socialist Republic of Estonia. Nazi Germany occupied Estonia in 1941, and the Soviets again in 1944 at the end of WWII, until the nation gained final independence following the collapse of the Iron Curtain - the political, military, and ideological barrier separating communist and capitalist nations.

Estonia’s immigration can be divided into two periods: post WWII and post independence, two major turning points in the nation’s history (Kallas, K; Kamenik, K;? Kindsiko, E; Tammaru, T; Vadi, M; Vedina, R; 2015). During WWII, Estonia lost about 25 percent of its population and turned into what many called an immigration country, composed of Russian, Swedish, German, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Jewish people. By 1960, an average of 20,000 immigrants crossed the border to Estonia in large measure to accelerate industrialization. In 1990, it was noted that Estonia was represented by over a hundred different nationalities. Strict immigration policies resulted in many immigrants leaving and returning to their mother countries.?

Formal education is highly valued and dates as far back as the 13th Century with the establishment of monastic schools. Compulsory education was mandated by 1860, reaffirmed in 1938, and modernized in 1991. Today, they boast of being one of the elite educational systems in the world, a status they earned, honor, and cherish.

Government

Estonia is a democratic state with a parliamentary system of government. The current prime minister is Kristen Michal. He took office on July 23, 2024, following the resignation of Koja Kallas. They have a political system that emphasizes the separation of powers, i.e.,?the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government. The prime minister has the power to issue decrees, resolutions, and directives. Legislative power is vested in the Estonian parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches.

The United States and Estonia are global partners and strong allies. Estonia is one of the safest and healthiest countries in the world with a low crime rate and a high standard of living.

Education

The OECD PISA test is an international assessment administered every three years since its inception, except in 2022 when it was delayed by one year due to the COVID pandemic. The delay allowed the OECD to collect and analyze data on various topics, such as resiliency, an important dimension of organizational strength and flexibility. Despite the pandemic, Estonia ranks 4th on the list of high achieving nations (See Chart Below).

Besides high resiliency, what other factors contribute to their high performance? Estonia has a comprehensive and inclusive educational system, providing special programs for disabled children, as well as the gifted, from speech and language to all forms of counseling services and extra support for those who require it. Education is free of charge from basic to higher education, including meals, textbooks, and internet service. Learning includes Hobby Schools analogous to what is called co-curricular and extracurricular activities in the United States. A few examples of Hobby Schools in Estonia are the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Georg Ots Tallin Music College, and the Kalev Sailing School. Comprehensive education, teacher quality, low attrition, balanced workload, and respect for teachers, contribute to their success. But this is only a part of the story.

Education is deregulated. While the curriculum is nationalized, schools can decide on goals and focus of study. Principals can hire and dismiss teachers, decide on budget expenditures, the needs of their schools, and evaluate staff. Teachers on the other hand have? autonomy in the classroom. They decide the teaching methods, assessments, and resources used. Their philosophy places teachers and principals front and center of instructional decision-making.

Teachers

Teachers are highly educated and require the minimum of a master’s degree. The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), the world’s largest international survey about teachers and school leaders covering 52 countries, reported in 2018 that 83% of the teachers in Estonia are female and, on average, older than teachers in most other TALIS countries. Despite their age, teachers in Estonia have a lower attrition rate and spend more years in the teaching profession than other TALIS countries with an average of 22.7 years. The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES, 2020,2021), reported the average tenure of teachers in the United States is 15.2 years. This seven year differential can amount to a significant loss in teacher capital, with the need to backfill these positions with less experienced or qualified candidates, requiring significant professional development over many years to bridge the gap. In short, Estonian teachers rank 2nd among TALIS countries with longer teacher tenure periods.

Another interesting feature of the Estonian system is the number of hours primary and secondary teachers spend in actual instruction per year, ranking them lowest of the thirty-seven nations surveyed at 592 hours per year (OECD, 2020). In the United States, teachers teach an average of 890 hours per year (Please see the table below). In Estonia, the instructional school year is 175 teaching days (35 weeks), and in the United States is 180 days (36 weeks). In an article published by EducationWeek (Sparks, S.D; October 4, 2022), OECD Director for Education, Andreas Schleicher, speaks to teachers having experienced? technological changes in schools as the reason for increases in direct instructional time in classrooms across OECD nations. In Estonia, this increase is much smaller, or not evident at all, since the nation was already technologically advanced. In short, the country mandates less school days and hours of instruction per year than most other OECD countries, yet achieve remarkable success.

Teacher salaries are low by western standards. The average actual lower and upper secondary teacher salary among 25-64 year olds is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD countries at 32,374 USD. Out of the 28 nations surveyed, Estonia ranks 22nd among countries with the lowest salary. Salaries are low and class sizes high at the upper secondary level at 16.2 students per teacher, which ranks them 9th among participating nations. Despite lower salaries and higher class sizes, Estonia’s attrition is low, suggesting there is more at play motivating teachers. Teachers report feeling highly valued as one possible explanation. This perception jumped by 13 percentage points in recent years.

Teachers report that the classroom environment is positive. Ninety-seven percent of the teachers agree that they get along well with students. However, 12% of the principals report regular acts of bullying among students. The OECD average is 14%. According to the NCES (2019), about 22% of students ages 12-18, reported being bullied at school in the United States.?

Principals

Principal attrition is similar in Estonia as their teacher counterpart. On average, they spend more years in their role as principals than most other TALIS countries at 14 years,? ranking them 2nd. The NCES (2023) noted, “...off all public school principals at any school in the United States], 15% left their positions by the 2021-2022 school year.” Education Week (2023) adds, “...principals with 10 or more years of experience left their roles at higher rates than those with fewer than three years.” On average, principals in Estonia rank second among nations spending more years in their role than 49 countries surveyed.?

Principal candidates in Estonia? require a Master’s degree in educational innovation at state or private universities. Once hired, principals are required to participate in professional development to remain current. Among all 49 TALIS countries who participated in the survey, principals in Estonia in 2018 ranked number one in participation in professional development. Principals play a relatively small role in curriculum development with the majority of the responsibility assigned to teachers. One major task is discipline, spending as much as 40% of their time on managing student behavior.?

Salaries of principals in Estonia among 25-64 year olds vary from 71,784 USD at the primary level to 81,972 USD at the upper secondary level.?

Expenditure

Estonia is a tiny nation with a population of nearly 1.3 million people, of which 158,000 are students who attend public school (News ERR; https://news err.ee). The share in dollars for education is spread among all students below higher? education,?ranking them 5th out of 36 OECD nations (2022). The chart below depicts the flow of funding from the central to local governments and school districts.

Estonia devotes a significant portion of their GDP on education. The United States and Japan are the only two OECD nations studied so far with a higher percentage.? In 2022, the GDP was 38.1 billion, of which 5.91%, or 2.25 billion USD, was spent on education. The United States spent 1.53 trillion during the same period. From 2012-2020, the average annual growth in total expenditure from primary to university in Estonia was one of the highest among OECD and partner countries,?ranking them 9th among 35 nations. Estonia spends 11,088 USD annually per full-time equivalent student, compared to the OECD average of 12,647 USD. The United States in 2021 spent 14,347 USD per student, grades pre-K through 12th (US Census.gov, 2024).

Organization of Estonia’s Educational System

Estonia’s educational system is similar to other democratic countries. It is divided into five stages: Early Childhood, Basic, Upper Secondary, Masters, and Doctorate. (See Chart Below). Basic education is mandatory from ages 7 to 16. There are several pathways for Estonians to choose from when progressing through their formal studies: General upper secondary, vocational secondary education, and university. Students typically complete upper secondary at age 18. All programs lead to certification. School is free for students at each stage, including higher education through the doctorate level, as long as they study at public universities or state institutions of higher learning.?

Estonia’s national curriculum for basic education includes eight compulsory subjects, as well as eight cross-cultural themes. The compulsory subjects include language and literature, foreign language, mathematics, natural science, social studies, art and music,, technology, and physical education. Cross-cultural themes include the following: Lifelong Learning and Career Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development, Civic Initiative and Enterprise, Cultural Identity, Information Environment, Technology and Innovation, Health and Safety, and Values and Morality. These compulsory subjects and cross-cultural themes lay out the mandate for public education.

The national curriculum is actually a framework of common standards, providing schools the freedom and flexibility to modify and enhance creativity in the teaching and learning process. It was modified and adopted in 2023 in part to mediate the effects of COVID. The updated curriculum aims to provide teachers with autonomy through a learner-centered approach.

The total compulsory instructional time for primary and lower secondary students in Estonia is among the shortest of OECD countries. They rank 30 out of 38 countries. Actual instructional hours is 6,431 in 2023. According to? Education at a Glance (OECD, 2023), the United States has more total compulsory instructional time for primary and secondary education than Estonia at 8,909, exceeding the OECD average. In short, students in Estonia spend less?days and compulsory time in school than the United States and most OECD nations.

In 1996, Estonia introduced the Tiger Leap program. Tiger Leap’s main objective was to make technology in primary and secondary grades, specifically computers and internet access, available to all schools and children. Teachers were trained in its use through professional development. Both teachers and principals highly endorsed Tiger Leap as an important step in modernizing the educational system.?

In 2019, the OECD reported that Estonia ranked highest in attitudes about professional development. Ninety-one percent of teachers surveyed with five or more years of experience reported that targeted professional development had a positive impact on their teaching experience, especially when building on prior knowledge (See Table Below). Estonia ranks number two on teacher participation in professional development activities in the 12 months prior to the TALIS survey, including in person seminars, on-line courses, and conferences on educational issues (Estonia mean 5.0; Brazil 3.7; Finland 3.4; Korea 5.7; Japan 3.6; Singapore 5.0; Canada (Alberta) 4.5; United States 4.5). The breakdown of less than and greater than five years of teaching experience?for surveying and offering professional development could benefit districts as they plan their programs.

Economy

The euro is Estonia’s currency. Their economic engine measured in GDP is represented by a number of specific business sectors. In 2022, agriculture contributed 2.52 percent, industry 24.02 percent, and service 61.46 percent. Engineering, electronics, wood and textiles, information technology, and telecommunication, make up the lionshare of the industries. Estonia is listed as the 41st richest country among democratic nations.?

Inflation has plagued Estonia, as it has other nations, primarily due to the economic slowdown caused by the COVID pandemic; however recently on the decline. In 2022, it was 19.4%; in 2023, 9.1%; and in 2024, 4.2%. The average income is 30,720 USD per year, which is below the OECD average of 49,165 worldwide.

Culture

Estonia has a rich indigenous heritage. Their national language is Estonian. Native Estonians comprise most of the people with Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Finns, and Latvians, comprising the remaining people. Some distinguishable features of Estonia is their free public transportation system and online voting.?

Estonians enjoy their smoked and marinated foods. Eel, crayfish, shrimp, founder, perch, and pike, are favorites. The cuisine is not based solely on fish. Meat and potatoes are also part of the diet. Rye bread, beer, vodka, pork, pea soup, and chicken stock soups, are also enjoyed. Soups are blended with sour cream, milk, butter, and yogurt, to produce a rich stock. Vana Tallinn, a robust, rum-based liqueur, is Estonia’s best known alcoholic beverage.?

Sports?

Estonia has won most of its Olympic medals in wrestling, weightlifting, and cross-country skiing. In total, they collected 14 Gold, 11 Silver, and 19 Bronze. Other sports?they participate and enjoy are basketball, biathlon, boxing, cycling, fencing, disc golf, speed skating, and swimming.

Estonia is represented in the 2024 Paris Olympics. It is the nation’s fourteenth appearance at the Games and ninth consecutive since independence from the former Soviet Union. A small cadre of athletes (16 men and 8 women) are competing in 13 sports (archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, equestrian, fencing, judo, rowing, shooting, sailing, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling).

The most celebrated sports figures in Estonian history are Martin Rein and Marko Kristal, both former European football players who turned to coaching at the end of their careers.

Implications

This review of Estonia’s history, culture, and educational system, adds to the body of knowledge of high performing nations. They have a comprehensive and inclusive educational system. Despite a shorter school year, shorter school day, and low instructional hours, they are ranked among one of the top performing school systems in the world.?

Estonia has low attrition. Teachers and principals experience longevity in their profession. Students benefit from these longer teacher tenure periods by being taught by highly? knowledgeable,?exceptionally trained, and skillful teachers.

The country and its people value education so much that they offer free education for all citizens through higher education.?

The nation demonstrates their trust in teachers and principals by providing them with autonomy in classrooms and schools.?

Whether required or voluntary, teachers participate in more professional development than their counterparts in most other countries. Teachers surveyed with less than or equal to five years of experience, and teachers with greater than five years of experience, believe that professional development was meaningful and beneficial to them in the classroom and increased their self-efficacy.

The nation and its people are highly resilient. They were well prepared for the COVID pandemic by already being one of the most wired countries in terms of digital competence.

The nation believes in learning through play. Children learn best in relaxing school environments. Hobby Schools were created for this purpose.?

Morality is an important component of learning and deliberately taught in schools.?

Lastly, Estonia jumpstarts learning by ensuring that children know how to read and write by the time they begin first grade.?

References

A Brief Summary of Estonian History: Finland Study Tour 2015,? May 3-May 16; Finland and Estonia.? (Betlem, P., 2015).??

Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS; 2019, 2022)

Country Report Estonia: An entry point into the EU labor market (2015). Kallas, K; Kamenik, K;? Kindsiko, E; Tammaru, T;; Vadi, M;? Vedina, R.

Kassim, H.(2022). The European Commission and the COVID-19 pandemic: a pluri-institutional approach. Journal of European Public Policy, 30(4), 612-634.

NCES; Condition of Education. US Department of Education. Institute of Education Services (retrieved July 25, 2024)

US Teachers Work More Hours than their Global Peers.? Sparks, D. S.? (EducationWeek, October 4, 2022)

OECD (2020), TALIS 2018 Results (Volume II): Teachers and School Leaders as Valued Professionals, TALIS, OECD Publishing, Paris.

OECD (2023), PISA 2022 Results (Volumes I ): The State of Learning and Equity in Education, PISA, OECD Publishing, Paris.

OECD (2023), PISA 2022 Results (Volume II): Learning During-and From-Disruptions, PISA, OECD Publishing, Paris.