Supporting disadvantaged groups in primary and secondary education in Estonia

История школьного образования в Эстонии Nowadays education in Estonia is divided into basic, vocational and advanced training. The education is based on a four-level system including pre-school, primary, secondary and higher education. Estonian educational system consists of national, municipal, public and private institutions.

Education in Estonia The system of education in Estonia is regulated with The Constitution of Republic, Child Protection Law and Education Law. Education is compulsory for all children up to the age of 17. The training must be provided by a local school (according to pupil’s address). For SEN pupils education is provided in special schools or at home.

Education in Estonia The compulsory education covers from 1 st to 9 th grade. Pupils join primary school at the age of 7 or 8. The period of compulsory education is divided into three parts: Period 1 (1 st – 3 rd year); Period 2 (4 th – 6 th year); Period 3 (7 th – 9 th year). The training is organized on accordance with national curriculum.

Education in Estonia Secondary education is divided into academic and vocational: Academic form (10 th – 12 th grades) allows to continue studies in university and acquire higher education. Vocational training leads to job placement or continuing studies for receiving a vocational certificate.

Training opportunities for SEN pupils State and municipal schools are open for SEN pupils. If local authorities are not able to provide a SEN pupil with correspondent education, there is an opportunity to forward a child to a state school in accordance with resolution of conciliatory commission.

Estonian state schools Schools for SEN pupils; 29 basic and secondary schools; Centralized financing; Subordination to the Ministry of Education and Research; Participation in project work; Personnel qualification requirements in accordance with the national standard.

Becoming a pupil of state school Assignment of a training curricula according to diagnostics and child’s medical evidence; Conciliatory commission; Choice of school is made on parents’ decision.

Curricula Three kinds of training: Simplified training – for children with slight mental disorders; Supplementary training – for children with medium or severe mental disorders; Medico-pedagogical care – for children with complicated pathology.

Simplified training 9 years of studies; + 1 additional year according to parents’ wish (50% - pre-vocational training); Vocational training in specialized groups.

Supplementary training and medico- pedagogical care 9 years of studies; + 2 additional years for a better coping with curriculum (according to parents’ wish); SOMETIMES vocational trainig in specialized training centers.

Regulative documents Regulations of the school; School development programme; Resolutions of the Board; School curriculum; System of internal assessment (bookkeeping, internal audit, self-assessment).

Partners Local authorities – conciliatory commission; Medical institutions; Child care institutions; Vocational schools; Public authorities (police, etc.).

Project “Outdoor education for pupils with special needs” The aim of the project is to study the topic of Outdoor Education for pupils with special needs, compare its development in Estonia, the UK, Turkey and Spain, share best practices, analyse difficulties and apply the findings to everyday work with the pupils in every participating school. The project is financed by Comenius Partnership Programme (Life Long Learning Programme)

Project “International partnership building for providing SEN pupils with better pre-vocational preparation” The participants exchange experiences, best practices and challenges of the theme of pre- vocational preparation of SEN pupils. Project partners: educational institutions from Estonia, Finland, Norway, Georgia, Armenia and Russia.

Labour market perspectives for our pupils At the moment vocational education in Estonia is provided only to pupils completing simplified curriculum, but not supplementary or medico-pedagogical training. Moreover, there is no much career choice for SEN students – special vocational education is provided mostly in the sphere of construction or cooking.

Labour market perspectives for our pupils Our pupils do not have many career options. Another problem is that safety requirements are very strict in the construction and cooking fields. That means that employers are not ready to take an extra responsibility for workers with special needs. As a result after leaving the school our pupils have very vague and uncertain future and their life most often ends in a boarding house for disabled people.

CONTACTS AHTME SCHOOL Reg. nr ÕPETAJATE 3, Kohtla-Järve Tel Fax