Education in Estonia and in Kilingi-Nõmme Gymnasium

Erli Aasamets – headmaster in KiNG

28.06. 2013Translation Kätlin Laur

Topics

• Education in Estonia– Problems– Joys– Trends

• Saarde Parish– Problems– Joys– Trends

• Kilingi-Nõmme Gymnasium (KiNG)– Problems– Joys– Trends

Estonian education

system

Problems in Estonian education

• A consistent decrease in the number of pupils

• Party political system in economics of education

• Stratification of society

• Low prestige of the teaching profession

2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 - 2009

24 pupils / class

Elementary + Primary (1-9) 14 855 13 259 12 993 12 438 -2 417 -101

Secondary (10-12) 11 517 10 413 10 080 9 337 -2 180 -91

Vocational 7 521 7 631 8 155 8 135 614 26

14 855

13 259 12 99312 438

11 517

10 41310 080

9 337

7 521 7 6318 155 8 135

6 500

8 500

10 500

12 500

14 500

2009 2010 2011 2012

Elementary + Primary (1-9) Secondary (10-12) Vocational

A A consistentconsistent decrease in the number of students decrease in the number of students

Music education in Estonia

• In Estonia there are 80 music schools in the authority of local governments.

• Music schools work according to the national curriculum.

• Currently there are 10 579 pupils in the music schools(ca 8 % of all pupils)

• Pärnu region 5 music schools • Their activity is coordinated by Estonian

Music Schools Association.http://www.eestimuusikakoolideliit.ee/

Party political system in Party political system in economicseconomics of of education education

• Centralization of education

• The prioritization of formal education

• The interests of non-party political groups are excluded

Low prestige of the teaching professionLow prestige of the teaching profession

• Teachers' salaries– junior teacher – 715 €– teacher – 715 € (KiNG 715 €)– senior teacher – 736 € (KiNG 760 €)– teacher educationist – 889 € (KiNG 930 €)

– (in KiNG the average salary of a teacher is 864 €) – for example:

• good driver – 800 €• construction worker 1500 €• secondary education ICT manager 2000 €

Joys in Estonia

• PISA test:– 2006 Estonia had the13th place in the world, 8th in

European ranking– 2009 Estonia had again the13th place in the world and

5th in Europe.

• ICT and learning– eSchool– eLearning (moodle, WebCT)– Estonian pupils are active Internet and computer users

in Europe (Survey of Schools: ICT in Education)

– Youth unemployment is low compared to Europe

Trends in Estonia

• Z-generation at school:– Enjoy life! They want to achieve satisfaction in their

lives quickly, they are not ready to work for a long time or make an effort.

– Relationships and teams. Friends and relations are important for young people, this in professional life as well. Team and its support is essential.

• More important are social skills • e-education, education is everywhere• Social responsibility is diminishing

Problems in Pärnu region (and in outside cities)

• Population is shrinking and getting older

• Lack of work, but on the other hand not enough active people and lack of specialist

• Only two productions (forest, agriculture)

• No natural resources

• Only nature tourism

• Periphery, far from the centres

Joys in Saarde parish

• Our environment is clean, close to nature and safe• Stable financial position and conservative financial

strategy– During the economic crisis worldwide and in the

European Union in Saarde parish there were no cuts in salaries.

• Our parish has a strong influence on our neighbour parishes

• Experience in the accession of the three local governments

Trends in Saarde parish

• The effect of the administrative reforms

• Saarde and Kilingi-Nõmme – regional centre of attraction

• Managing and developing of the social infrastructure and small firms

Problems in KiNG (and outside cities)

• It threatens the "axe" of administrative and educational reform

• Children of the 21st century are taught by teachers who studied in the 20th century with methods from the19th century

• Stratification of society:– parents working abroad – “Euro – orphan”– school must be responsible for the child– State emphasizes formal education

Joys in KiNG• Local government support:

– free accommodation in dormitory– free school lunch– free theory lessons in local driving school – minimum budget cuts

• Very good infrastructure– dormitory– sports hall– stadium

• Strong trends– Mathematics– Science– ICT– Participating in different projects

Trends in KiNG

• Differentation and personalization of teachers´ job profile

• Pupils' spare time activities in different directions (social skills)

• Bigger involvement of boys• Directing pupils beyond classroom to take

part in different events like competitions, contests or teamwork projects.

• Working and coping with the Z-generation

Participation in projects

• Tiger Leap Foundation – Animation• University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy – co-project

MIMO (Moving In! Moving On!)• Estonian Reading Association – LOM (It is nice to read!)• Song contest The Most Beautiful Forest Song • Integration project with Russian-speaking schools• Youth involvement into politics: project “Here we come!” • Sports competition by Estonian Broadcasting: TV 10

Olympic starts • KiNG participates in 17 projects• During the school year (175 days) there are on 60 days

events with/for pupils

Thank you for your attention!