Ida-Viru vocational school cuts six Estonian teaching posts

Ida-Viru Vocational Education Centre director Hendrik Agur has cut six Estonian-language teaching posts as the school reduces intensive language instruction and seeks additional state funding, ERR reported, citing Põhjarannik.

Agur said the cuts were linked both to the reduction in intensive Estonian courses and to falling enrollment. The school had 2,063 students a year ago, compared with 1,756 this autumn, a decline of nearly 15 percent.

The drop is due to a lower share of adult vocational students, Agur said. He said the school’s move to Estonian-language education may have put off some Russian-speaking residents of Ida-Viru County. He expects that trend to ease and does not expect enrollment to keep falling for that reason.

In January, ERR reported that the school was recruiting Estonian-language teachers to provide intensive preparation for about 700 to 800 students, enabling them to study in Estonian.