Hundreds of kindergarten assistants leave over Estonian language rules

Hundreds of kindergarten assistant teachers have left their jobs in Tallinn and Narva after a requirement to speak Estonian at B2 level took effect in August, ERR reported. Many replacements have the required language skills but lack professional qualifications, increasing the training burden on kindergarten managers and experienced staff.

In Tallinn, Deputy Mayor Andrei Kante of the Centre Party said the city currently lacked about 100 assistant teachers, possibly more. He said 300 assistants had not met the language requirement and 301 had left their jobs. A further 100 people had left for other reasons or moved between kindergartens.

Kante said the city had recruited 90 people so far and that kindergarten managers were actively seeking more staff.

He acknowledged that some new employees had language skills but lacked professional experience, while experienced employees who did not meet the language requirement had been forced to leave. Kante said kindergarten managers would have to train new staff in teaching methods.

“There is a crisis-like situation, but I believe we can manage,” Kante said, noting that employees had had a two-year transition period to improve their language skills.

Narva terminated 108 contracts

Narva city government immediately terminated the contracts of 108 kindergarten assistants. Larissa Degel, head of the city government’s culture department, said the move was not unexpected because employees had been informed about the deadlines, language-learning opportunities and examinations over several months.

According to Degel, the kindergartens had organised workplace language courses or adjusted work arrangements during the two-year transition period to support employees learning Estonian.

At the beginning of the 2025 academic year, Narva’s kindergartens employed 206 assistant teachers. Of these, 79 met the language requirement, 75 were studying, and 52 had language skills below B1 level and were not expected to begin studying.

Degel said the shortage of qualified replacements was clear. Some of the new employees had no experience working in kindergartens, so directors had arranged additional training to prepare them quickly.