Over 100 Russian-native youths still lack school places in Tallinn

More than 100 young people whose first language is Russian remain without school places in Tallinn, ERR reported. Their further education is being hindered in part by limited Estonian-language skills.

School leaders warn that the problem could worsen because the transition to Estonian-language education has not yet reached the upper grades, while some students have not even achieved basic language proficiency.

Jaromir, a ninth-grade student at Tallinn Central Russian Gymnasium, is still studying partly in Russian because the reform has currently reached sixth grade. He said he had developed a good command of Estonian with the help of a private tutor, although subjects such as social studies remain difficult because they require specialised terminology.

Ingar Dubolazov, the school’s principal, said students’ Estonian skills varied widely in Russian-language schools. Some students had not reached even the A2 basic level by seventh grade, he said.

“Simple sentences about your family, hobbies, where you study and where you live do not come without mistakes, if they come at all,” Dubolazov said. In his assessment, such students are highly unlikely to have sufficient language skills to continue their education by the end of ninth grade.

More than 200 children in Tallinn still had no school place in September, Deputy Mayor Andrei Kante said. Of these, 120 came from schools transitioning to Estonian-language education. It remains unclear whether the students have met the requirements for completing basic school, he said.

Students with weak language skills are supposed to receive preparatory education, but Dubolazov said he had little confidence in the current arrangements. He cited a lack of places, locations that did not suit the students, or students’ unwillingness to attend the available programmes.

Tallinn and the Ministry of Education are investing millions of euros in improving the Estonian-language skills of young people whose first language is Russian. Previously, ministry support was provided only to former Russian-language schools. The same funding is now also available to Estonian-language schools where at least 10 percent of students speak another language.

Kante said schools could use the funding for additional Estonian lessons, divide students into groups to support Estonian-language education, or finance extracurricular activities.

Jaromir plans to attend Pelgulinna state upper secondary school after completing basic school and hopes to become an engineer.