Vocational schools get 14 million euros, but reform needs more

Estonia’s vocational schools will receive nearly 14 million euros in additional funding next year to support a vocational education reform, ERR reports. The Estonian Association for the Advancement of Vocational Education welcomed the funding but said the sector needs a longer-term model to meet the reform’s demands.

The Ministry of Education and Research aims for at least 40 percent of basic school graduates to choose applied secondary education by 2035. Four-year vocational programmes aimed at basic school graduates began this academic year, prompting schools to review how they operate.

Ministry official Ülle Matsin said the additional money would help schools meet changing budget needs, including providing learning materials as more basic school graduates enrol in vocational secondary education.

Association chairman Kuno Rooba said the new programmes involve more teaching, support staff and material resources than vocational education did previously. He said the current funding model does not provide enough resources to achieve the reform’s goals.

Talks between the parties on the components of a revised funding model are due to begin on Friday. Matsin said the ministry also wants to make vocational education funding principles more consistent with those used for general secondary education.