Russian-speaking upper secondary schools in Estonia to introduce Estonian as main language of instruction
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On Monday the Russian-speaking pupils in the Estonian upper secondary schools started studying Estonian literature in the Estonian language.
All upper secondary schools will gradually introduce Estonian as the principal language of instruction. During the current term, the change applies to the first grades of the upper secondary schools, with the Estonian-language instruction of literature.
"I guess it is good to have some practice", said Nastja Tretjak in Russian. She is starting the first grade of the Russian-language upper secondary school in Lasnamäki, Tallinn. Her classmates Julia Rabotajenko and Maksim Smarov nodded in unison.
The Russian and Estonian communities live apart from each other, and even if they live in Tallinn, people do not necessarily have any opportunity to practice the language. Moreover, some young people have started to speak English with each other. The majority of the population in the larger cities of Northeastern Estonia are Russian-speaking.
The objective of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research is to gradually increase the proportion of the Estonian-language instruction in Russian-speaking upper secondary schools, so that in four years some 60 per cent of all compulsory subjects would be taught in Estonian.
The aim is to improve the Russian-speaking pupils’ proficiency in Estonian as well as their competitiveness in the labour market.
The transition period in the Russian-speaking schools in Estonia started in a peaceful atmosphere. In comparison, a similar reform in Latvia three years ago caused extensive resistance and brought the schoolchildren onto the streets.
"These two processes are not similar", stressed Katri Raik from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research at a press conference before the schools started.
While in Estonia the change is made gradually, in Latvia 60 per cent of all instruction was switched at the same time, Raik reported.
According to Raik, a large number of Russian-language schools have announced already in advance that they will start the transition to Estonian-language instruction. Prior to the current autumn, some 95 per cent of all non-Estonian schools in the country gave instruction in one subject in Estonian.
In addition to Estonian literature, the plan is to start giving instruction in geography, music, civics, and Estonian history.
One of the main problems has been a lack of teachers with the required language proficiency. Consequently, the schedule and the contents of the reform have been changed many times. Even now, the plans are partly open.
According to estimates by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, the number of pupils in the Russian-language schools will drop sharply in the next few years, which might also affect the plans.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 4.9.2007 - TODAY |
 Russian-speaking upper secondary schools in Estonia to introduce Estonian as main language of instruction |
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