In late 2010, the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research signed directives granting Tallinn University and the University of Tartu a total of more than 83,000 euros in additional funds for the development and initial implementation of new in-service training programmes for teachers.

During the last months of 2010, the question of in-service teacher training was brought into sharp focus by the enforcement of updated national curricula for primary schools and secondary schools in autumn 2011.

“The success of implementing the new curricula from autumn 2011 onwards depends on the teachers’ willingness to put new principles into practice,” said Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas, regarding the money allocation. “The Ministry finds it important that programmes related to the goals and objectives of the new curricula would find their way to universities’ teacher training and in-service training programmes,” the Minister added. The Ministry and universities have agreed upon the topics of the new training programmes and it is the task of the universities to ensure their long-term viability.

Increasing the freedom of choice

A year ago, the updated national curricula for primary schools and secondary schools were approved by the Government of the Estonian Republic. The new curricula will change the current situation with primary schools and secondary schools sharing the same curriculum. The changes should clearly outline the differences in the objectives and requirements between the two levels of education. In comparison with earlier versions, the updated curricula lay particular emphasis on subject integration by also increasing the freedom of choice of pupils. The University of Tartu and Tallinn University are currently the largest providers of in-service teacher training programmes in Estonia. On 30 March 2010, there were 14,701 general education teachers in Estonia, of whom 762 were 66 years of age or older.