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A New Project Was Launched in Estonia, Aimed at Supporting Continued Education in the Russian Language

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A New Project Was Launched in Estonia, Aimed at Supporting Continued Education in the Russian Language


17.11.2009

Starting in June of 2009, the Human Rights Information Center in Estonia launched the "Creation of conditions for supporting continued education in the Russian language in Estonia through the implementation and use of European anti-discrimination principles" project with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. The main objective of the project is to provide teachers, parents and high school students with information to help them protect their basic rights in education, thereby creating more favorable conditions for developing and maintaining quality education in the Russian language in Estonia.

It is no secret that in recent years, in the light of implementation of a number of laws relating to education in the Russian language in Estonia – on the basis of which school reform is being carried out, quite an unfavorable atmosphere has been created for teachers in elementary and secondary schools whose language of instruction is Russian. Since 2007, elementary and secondary schools in Estonia, where instruction is in the Russian language, despite the protests of the Russian-speaking community and parents, and despite sociological research, have been practically forced to switch to the Estonian language.

Another "Sword of Damocles" hanging over the heads of Russian teachers is the Language Inspectorate. The agency regularly conducts verifications on the knowledge of the Estonian (state) language, arbitrarily and without any legal basis, trying to take advantage of the heavy workloads and lack of legal awareness of teachers and principals. Therefore the main task (or tasks) of the project is to raise the legal awareness of teachers, parents, high school students and all those who have a direct bearing on the fate of Russian language education in Estonia. To teach them to uphold and defend not only their human rights and dignity, but also their right to quality instruction and education in their native language.

The center has a section entitled "Education in Estonia" on their website, where you can learn more about the project and its implementation, as well as become acquainted with a variety of legal materials and publications in the media.

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