according to PISA, Estonia's general education system is 1st in Europe and one of the best in the world
estonia was already #1 in digital learning even before the pandemic (CEPS 2019)
95% of schools use e-school solutions where parents, teachers, and children collaborate in the cloud
overview
Estonia’s education system is a top performer in the OECD. High school graduation levels are significantly higher than OECD averages and the country’s basic education is top-ranked in Europe and the world. Estonian students achieve consistently high scores in the PISA test. All of this is to say: Your kids are in good hands. Each local government (e.g. Tallinn) is responsible for guaranteeing that every child registered as a resident in the area has access to education. Studying in universities or vocational schools is not dependent on your place of residence. For a complete, up-to-date list of schools offering education in English, visit Education Estonia.
Pre-school education in Estonia is for children aged between 18 months and 7 years. Up to age 3, children attend daycare (sõim). Children between 3-7 years attend kindergarten (lasteaed). If you want to, your child can stay home until compulsory education begins at age 7. There are two types of kindergartens in Estonia – municipal (93%) and private (7%). In municipal kindergartens, you’ll pay a small tuition fee and the cost of meals. In private kindergartens, the fee is much higher and additional admission conditions can apply.
As a parent, you are free to choose a suitable kindergarten for your child. In most kindergartens, Estonian is the language of instruction, but there are also Russian kindergartens where Estonian is taught. In addition, there are three international kindergartens and pre-schools in Tallinn and one in Tartu, all of them privately owned.
If the kindergarten has vacancies in a suitable age group, you can enter your child in the middle of the year. Do check the waiting list, though. That varies throughout the local municipalities. Municipal kindergartens can have long waiting lists (parents put their children on the list already when they’re born). Best first action to take is to get in touch with the kindergartens executive board members (i.e. director). A phone call or an email is best. You can search for all educational institutions in Estonia on the Estonian Education Information system (EHIS).
The search is available only in Estonian, but here are some tips to help you during your search:
Õppekeel – language of study;
Õppeasutuse liik – type of institution;
Koolieelne lasteasutus – preschool;
Asukoht – location. This allows you to choose the county and also the local government unit.
After pressing Otsi (search), you will get a list of kindergartens. By clicking on the small book symbol in front of the kindergarten name, you’ll see additional information and the kindergarten’s website.
Tallinn has a separate search engine (only in Estonian as well) which also shows you whether there are any vacancies in a specific kindergarten. To enrol your child in a municipal kindergarten, the child must be registered in the Population Register and have a personal identification code. No worries, you’ll get the code automatically when obtaining a residence permit.
As an EU citizen you can also get it when registering your place of residence at the local government service office. Pay in mind to register your place of residence – this determines your “catchment” area and the local government that will be providing social services for you. As an exception, you can also enrol your child in a municipal kindergarten with just an identification code (obtainable from the County Government) and without having registered the place of residence.
Private kindergartens don’t ask for the identification code or for a registered place of residence. You have to submit your application to the kindergarten directly (either in person or via e-mail). The applications can be found on the kindergartens’ websites. When putting your child on a waiting list, you can specify three preferred kindergartens on the application form.
The prices vary a great deal between municipal and private kindergartens. Most of the fee for municipal kindergartens is covered by the local government and you only have to pay an equal to 7.5-15% of the minimum wage. (In 2021, the additional sum paid by a parent was 88.45 euros a month in Tallinn.) Additionally, you also have to cover the catering fee which comes down to 1.31-2,40 euros a day. Private kindergartens cost more. Ask for the specific fee from the kindergarten directly. If your child is registered to live in Estonia, your local government will also pay a small subsidy for your child every month. The subsidy varies across country, but it’s usually over 100 euros.
Children usually stay home until the age of 1.5 years. During that time – and with the help from one of the most generous parental packages in the world – families receive the parental benefit and one of the parents can stay home. After that, children start their preschool education.
Basic education can be obtained in specific primary schools (that teach up to grade 6 only), basic schools (that teach up to grade 9), and upper secondary schools which offer the basic education curricula together with the upper secondary education.
The school year begins on 1 September and ends usually at the beginning of June. School holidays for most schools are in autumn (one week), during Christmas and New Year (usually two weeks), in late winter (one week) and in spring (one week). Schools in Estonia are generally divided into two: public and private schools. Public schools are free and most of them accept children into the first grade based on their catchment area. (The local government provides a place for all eligible children at one of their municipal schools). Applications for entering the first grade can be submitted either via the e-school website or on paper to your local government. To fall into a catchment area, you must register the place of residence of your child in Estonia.
In Estonia, high-quality public education is free for all residents. You’ll need to register your child in order for them to be guaranteed a place at a school nearby. The school will be chosen based on the proximity from your home (per the Population Register) to the school, but other factors — such as whether or not other children from your family also attend, and the parents’ wishes — will also be taken into account.
The school is obliged to accept all children designated to that school. A parent can choose another school for their child as long as there are spaces available. Contact your municipality or city’s education official to find out which school has been designated as your child’s school of residence. And if you want to explore your options in a more casual environment, book a free consultation with the International House of Estonia.
While it is up to each family to decide on their needs when it comes to schools, it is common for people who are planning to stay in Estonia for a long time to send their kids to state schools teaching in Estonian. For those looking to stay long-term, this is a great way for kids and parents to dive into the local life and integrate better.
Some schools provide education in English, but those typically have tuition fees. These schools and their fees vary greatly, so there is an international school to meet most families’ needs. Additionally, some schools are open for admission year-round, and finding a spot is not an issue. For details on admission, it is best to contact the international school of your choice.
