Education minister: Estonia supports comprehensive educational reforms in Ukraine

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas is on an official visit to Ukraine this week, where she reaffirms Estonia's unwavering and comprehensive support for the implementation of educational reforms in Ukraine.

"Estonia is recognized globally as a leader in education, and it is our duty to share our knowledge and experience to help Ukraine carry out similar reforms. We have successfully modernized our own education system, and now it's time to help Ukraine follow this path -- from early childhood education to higher education," Kallas emphasized.

"Our goal is to ensure that Ukrainian youth receive the best possible education, which will contribute to rebuilding the country and shaping a future where education is valued and the nation is globally competitive," she added.

Estonia is offering holistic support to Ukraine in reforming its education system at all levels. Estonian digital solutions and learning materials are already being used in several Ukrainian schools and kindergartens, and Estonian education experts are training Ukrainian teachers to promote teacher autonomy and modern teaching methods.

Special emphasis is also being placed on vocational education, where Estonia is helping to create up-to-date, labor market-oriented curricula and integrate entrepreneurship education. Ways are also being explored for Estonia to effectively support Ukraine in reforming its higher education system.

A key focus of the visit is the continued implementation of Estonian educational technology solutions. In cooperation with the Estonian Foreign Ministry, a business seminar will be held in Kyiv, where Estonian educational technology companies will present their solutions to foster new contacts and cooperation agreements.

Kallas will also deliver a public lecture at Taras Shevchenko National University, one of the institutions severely affected by the war, sharing success stories and practical insights from Estonia's education reforms.

In addition to modernizing Ukraine's education system, Estonia is committed to ensuring that the educational journey of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia continues uninterrupted. This will allow them to return home enriched with knowledge and experiences gained from the Estonian education system.

During the visit, Kallas will meet with Ukrainian government officials and education sector representatives to discuss the next steps in cooperation.