At least eight new schools to open doors come fall.
Postimees Digest, Thursday, July 25
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The Ministry of Education and Science's education licenses department has allowed at least eight new schools to set up in September, making for a considerable figure compared to previous years. Nine out of fourteen schools that have applied for a license are private schools. The ministry's PR consultant Asso Ladva said that private schools seem to herald a new trend in education and can currently be founded on favorable terms as the state will take care of teachers' salaries, capitation and study aids. New schools to launch in September also include two state high schools in Haapsalu and Jõgeva.
Men falling behind in education.
Estonian universities admit more than 150 female students for every 100 men each year while the difference is twofold in terms of graduation, making for the biggest educational gender gap in the EU. Tallinn University received 72 percent of all applications from women this year while the corresponding figure was 62 percent for the University of Tartu. This gender gap has also found mention in Estonia's human development report. One of the authors of the report, Marju Lauristin, said that one way to remedy the situation would be to adopt a more personal admissions practice as the current system that leans on state examination results favors women. Lauristin said that considering Estonia's small size, adopting a more personal approach shouldn't be too difficult as the country really needs to value each young person it has. Editor-in-chief of the 2013 report Mati Heidmets highlighted Estonia's educational gender gap also as serious social problem as a lot of young and educated women fail to find suitable partners in Estonia and turn their gaze abroad.