Tag Archives: Estonia

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Estonia’s educational history is one that has been shaped by its political and social history throughout the centuries. The earliest known schools in Estonia were established during the Middle Ages, with the majority of these being privately owned by wealthy landowners or religious institutions. These schools were largely focused on providing a basic education in literacy and arithmetic for local children, with some of them also offering instruction in Latin and other foreign languages. In 1558, King Gustav I of Sweden ordered the establishment of a public school system in Estonia as part of his efforts to modernize and reform Swedish-controlled territories. This system was based on the Swedish model which provided free, compulsory education for all children between the ages of 7 and 17. This system was further expanded during the 19th century as part of reforms implemented by Tsar Alexander II which saw an increase in state-funded primary schools throughout Estonia. During the 20th century, Estonia experienced a period of rapid modernization which saw an expansion in its educational infrastructure, with new universities and technical colleges being established to provide higher education opportunities for Estonians. In addition to this, secondary schools were restructured to offer more specialized curricula such as vocational training or language instruction. Following Estonia’s independence from Soviet rule in 1991, significant reforms were implemented to modernize its educational system and bring it into line with international standards such as those set by UNESCO. These reforms included increasing access to pre-school education for young children; introducing new curricula focusing on technology and entrepreneurship; introducing tuition fees for university students; and providing greater autonomy for educational institutions at both primary and secondary level. Today, Estonia has a well-developed educational system that provides quality schooling for students from pre-school through to tertiary level education. In addition to this, there are also numerous private sector initiatives aimed at providing further educational opportunities for Estonians such as language courses or vocational training programs. In 2009, Estonia was a small Baltic state located in Northern Europe. It had been a part of the Soviet Union for six decades before gaining independence in 1991. Since then, it had become a member of the European Union and NATO, and had established itself as an independent, democratic nation with a strong economy. Estonia’s geopolitical position was largely shaped by its relations with its two powerful neighbors, Russia and the European Union. To the east lay Russia, which had historically regarded Estonia as part of its sphere of influence. Despite their differences in history and ideology, Estonia maintained positive political and economic ties with Russia, as evidenced by their joint membership in the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS). To the west lay the European Union (EU), which Estonia joined in 2004. As an EU member state, Estonia benefited from increased access to international markets and greater political stability. It also enjoyed increased economic opportunities due to its access to EU funds for development projects. At the same time however, it faced certain challenges related to its geographic location at Europe’s easternmost edge; particularly in terms of security issues such as cyber-attacks originating from Russia or other former Soviet states. Finally, Estonia’s geopolitical position was also affected by its close relationship with Finland and Sweden – two countries that shared similar cultural values and histories with Estonia – as well as by its membership in various regional organizations such as the Nordic Council of Ministers or Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8). These organizations provided Estonia with greater access to regional markets and resources while also helping it strengthen regional security through cooperation on matters such as border control or energy supply. In conclusion, since gaining independence in 1991 Estonian geopolitics has been characterized by positive relations both with Russia to the east and the European Union to the west; strong ties with Finland and Sweden; and membership in various regional organizations aimed at strengthening security and fostering economic development within Europe’s easternmost edge. Check mathgeneral for Estonia in 2017.