Obligation to learn
In Estonia, all children who reach 7 years of age before 1 October of the current year have the obligation to learn until they reach 18 years of age. The obligation to learn is also deemed to have been fulfilled before the age of 18 if the student has completed secondary or vocational education.
The fulfilment of the obligation to learn may be postponed due to the child’s individual development or state of health. It is also possible to fulfil the obligation to learn at home. No pupil is exempt from the obligation to learn due to disability or lack of abilities – basic education can be acquired on the basis of a simplified curriculum, if necessary. A child of a citizen of a foreign state or a stateless person residing in Estonia is also required to study until the age of 18. An exception is made for the children of a representative of a foreign state or an international organisation accredited in the Republic of Estonia, who are not subject to the obligation to learn.
Fulfilment of the obligation to learn
Child and young person
Students have an obligation to participate in basic, secondary or vocational education, and to acquire knowledge, skills, and competences that support their development.
Parent
The parent or guardian ensures that the child fulfils the obligation to learn. To this end, they create conditions that support learning at home and take care of participation in learning. They use the information channels designated by the school for daily communication, monitor the child’s learning outcomes, and inform the school about any problems. The parent submits their contact details to the school, informs the school of any changes and, on the recommendation of the school, contacts an external advisory team.
If necessary, a parent shall apply to the school and the local government of residence for the implementation of measures supporting the fulfilment of the obligation to learn and use them. The parent shall initiate and participate in child developmental conversations, contribute to learning path choices, and submit applications for both entry to basic school and further education after the completion of basic education. The parent shall also examine the acts concerning the organisation of studies published on the website of the school and comply with the provisions thereof. The parent shall cooperate with both the school and the local government.
Local Government and State
The local government shall ensure that children residing in its administrative territory have the opportunity to acquire a basic education, involving, if necessary, the owner of a state or private school. Every child subject to the obligation to learn is assigned to the school of his or her place of residence. The local government keeps records of children subject to the obligation to learn, monitors the performance of the obligation, ensures the necessary support, medical care and catering for students, and organises the compensation of travel expenses on the bases provided for in law.
If fulfilment of the obligation to learn is hindered by the child’s need for assistance, the rural municipality or city shall ensure assistance on the basis of the Child Protection Act or the Social Welfare Act. The authorised person also monitors the participation of children in education through EHIS every month and has access to the contact details of their legal representatives.
As of 2026, the local government must ensure the continuation of the obligation to learn of students who have completed basic education by 1 November, at the latest. If necessary, the student, parents, and school will be supported, counselling will be organised and the necessary measures will be taken to fulfil the obligation. The local government shall establish a procedure for ensuring the obligation to learn and publish the contact details of the responsible structural units on its website.
The state and local governments must ensure high-quality and selective secondary education by maintaining the required number of upper secondary schools in each county. The state has the obligation to maintain at least one upper secondary school in each county and to provide preparatory education, if necessary.
At the request of the owner of the school, space in a boarding school facility shall be created in the county for families whose children need state support in acquiring basic education.
Educational institution
The basic school must accept all children subject to the obligation to learn for whom it is designated as their school of residence. The school keeps records of student participation and implements measures to fulfil the obligation.
Teachers monitor the development of the student and adapt the learning to their needs and abilities. For this purpose, the school has the right to process the data of the child’s readiness for school and support services in EHIS. At least once a year, a developmental dialogue takes place, where learning and development goals are agreed upon. If the parent repeatedly fails to appear for an interview or cannot be contacted, the school shall notify the local government, which shall take the necessary measures to protect the rights of the child.
The standard period of study for coping curriculum students in basic school is 11 years and for care studies students it is 12 years. For simplified studies and coping studies students who have graduated from basic school, the school provides additional learning.
The head of the school or the owner of the school appoints an employee who communicates with the local government in matters related to the obligation to learn. The school may, on the recommendation of the counselling team and with the consent of the parent, implement enhanced or special support, home schooling, non-stationary learning, simplified or coping studies, or exempt the child from studying a particular subject.
If a student has incurred study arrears and has been assigned support for any reason, the school must continuously assess the adequacy of the support and the need for additional measures. If necessary, the local government will be involved, an individual curriculum will be drawn up or career counselling will be provided. If the student is repeatedly absent for no reason and, as a result, learning arrears are incurred, the school will try to contact the parent as soon as possible. If the school does not get in contact with the child or parent within five school days from the moment of the response, the school will contact the local government for the implementation of further measures.
Vocational education institutions and upper secondary schools organise the admission of young people with basic education until 31 August. The available student places will be published on the school’s website and the information will be updated as often as possible to ensure that it is possible to participate in the additional admission process before the beginning of the next academic year, if necessary.
References
Laws
- Republic of Estonia Education Act
- Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act
- Vocational Educational Institutions Act