Estonia's Ministry of Education and Research (HTM) has unveiled preliminary proposals for a comprehensive education agreement, featuring significant reforms in career progression, workload management, and funding distribution.
Key among the proposals is a four-stage career model for teachers, accompanied by corresponding pay grades. Junior teachers would start with a salary coefficient of 0.9, progressing to teachers at 1.0, senior teachers at 1.4, and master teachers at 1.6. Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas highlights the potential for immediate implementation of this model, regardless of ongoing negotiations regarding minimum wages for teachers.
Workload considerations also take center stage, with proposed student-teacher ratios varying across grade levels. Recommendations include 12 students per teacher for grades 1 through 6, 11 students per teacher for grades 7 through 9, and 15 students per teacher for high school (grades 10 through 12). Additionally, class sizes are capped at 24 students, with provisions for hiring assistant teachers if class sizes exceed this limit, particularly in urban areas like Tallinn.
Furthermore, the proposed funding model suggests consolidating all education subsidies under local government jurisdiction. This streamlining aims to empower local authorities to manage educational expenses, including teacher salaries.
Alongside these reforms, the education agreement outlines plans for restructuring Estonia's school network. While grades 1 through 6 would remain local, grades 7 through 9 are proposed for consolidation into larger population centers. By 2035, the plan aims to reduce the number of high schools to 100, through mergers or closures, with the goal of enhancing efficiency and educational quality.
These proposals mark a significant step toward modernizing Estonia's education system, aiming to improve teacher remuneration, optimize workload management, and ensure sustainable funding allocation for educational institutions nationwide.
