Prime Highlights
- Education experts and NGO Mondo called for greater emphasis on global citizenship in Estonia’s national school curriculum.
- The Education Ministry said global education principles are already included, while schools have the freedom to expand the topic further.
Key Facts
- NGO Mondo is an Estonian non-profit organisation that promotes global education, development cooperation and humanitarian awareness.
- Global education has been promoted in Estonia for around 15 years through school subjects, projects and elective programmes.
Background
Education experts and civil society groups in Estonia are calling for a stronger focus on global citizenship in the national school curriculum, saying students need more structured learning about global issues and civic responsibility. While global education has been promoted in the country for around 15 years, stakeholders believe its implementation remains uneven across schools.
NGO Mondo said global citizenship should be given a clearer place in the national curriculum and subject syllabi. The organisation believes students should not only understand global challenges but also learn how local actions connect to global issues and become more actively involved in society. It noted that many young people are aware of global concerns but do not always translate that knowledge into everyday actions or civic participation.
The Estonian History and Civics Teachers’ Association supported the proposal, saying global education is already included in civics lessons but often depends on individual teachers. The association said a dedicated curriculum section would ensure all students receive consistent learning in this area.
The Ministry of Education and Research said the current curriculum already includes global education through core values such as solidarity, civic engagement and global citizenship. It added that schools have significant freedom to design their own programmes, allowing them to place greater emphasis on subjects that match their educational goals.
Education experts also said schools could provide students with a broader understanding of globalisation, cultural diversity and international development. They added that more research, stronger cooperation between schools and wider sharing of best practices would help improve global education across Estonia. Stakeholders have prepared a vision document and are now working on an action plan to guide future reforms.
