Many schools in Estonia start classes before 9:00 under exceptions
In Estonia, classes are supposed to begin at 9:00 this school year, but many schools are using permitted exceptions and starting lessons earlier. The decisions are explained by the need to coordinate schedules with public transport, extracurricular activities and other local circumstances, ERR News reports.
Under the new rules, a school may begin the school day before 9:00 in exceptional cases if there are compelling reasons and joint agreement between the institution and its founder. Estonia’s Ministry of Education and Research does not keep overall statistics on the number of schools using this exception or the reasons for such decisions.
Different schedules in Tartu and Tallinn
In Tartu, about half of schools start classes at 9:00, while others have set different starting times. In particular, Annelinna High School and Kristjan Jaak Peterson High School have retained an 8:00 start, while Mart Reiniku School begins at 8:30. At Hugo Treffner High School, classes start at 8:15 from Tuesday to Friday, and at 9:20 on Monday; an optional subject is held beforehand.
Riigo Raave, head of the education department of the Tartu City Government, noted that upper-secondary schools start classes the earliest because of their longer school day. According to him, moving the start of classes to a later time while ending the day at the usual time requires restructuring the entire timetable, which is particularly difficult for large schools.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
In Tallinn, all 36 schools that applied received permission to start classes early. Lesson start times at these institutions range from 8:00 to 8:50. Some schools surveyed students, parents and teachers about their preferred timetable.
Transport and extracurricular activities
Among the reasons cited for early starts in Tallinn were two-shift teaching, limited capacity in cafeterias or sports facilities, and the need to spread out morning transport demand. For pupils travelling across the city, a 9:00 start may coincide with peak time on public transport.
In Võru Parish, all general education schools begin classes before 9:00 — at 8:00, 8:15 or 8:30. They took into account the views of parents and pupils, transport arrangements, dispersed settlement patterns, the balance of the school day and pupils’ well-being. In the city of Viljandi, all four basic schools start classes at 9:00, while in Viljandi Parish, lesson start times range from 8:00 to 8:40. At Tarvastu High School, the parents’ council unanimously supported an 8:20 start, citing, among other things, the public transport timetable and children’s participation in activities in Viljandi.
