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This week, fresh data on pre-school establishments and numbers of children were published by Statistical Office. As compared to 2004, the number of children in the capital’s kindergartens is up 37 per cent, while the number of kindergartens has only increased by six per cent.
In comparison with 2004, Tallinn has nine more pre-school child care institutions. Tartu County, with population of nearly three times less, has built ten kindergartens over the same period of time. While nine years back an average of 121 kids attended the capital’s pre-school establishments, last year’s average was 156.
€500 a month
A mother of an 11 months old baby, dwelling in Tallinn city centre, entered her son into the kindergarten waiting list immediately after birth. By now, there are 300 kids ahead of her.
The young mother Age (24) would like to start working soon, but there is no place to put the year-and-a-half years old child. Private kindergartens would surely be available, but regrettably they cost hundreds of euros a month.
The Viimsi kindergarten, close to where Age’s parents live, is strikingly beautiful. Coming with a big minus, however – the price.
«Sure the kindergarten looks beautiful, but 500 euros a month... And, often, the private kindergartens are not better, therefore I would like to be convinced, should I put my child in a private kindergarten, that it would be worth the money,» said Age.
And even when the time comes for her child to be admitted, the young mother is suspicious towards the kindergarten system, as the groups are large and overcrowded.
Age recalls the incident of a child strangling himself with a scarf, on a playground, a couple years ago – lacking the needed attention. If at all possible, the lady would not like to send her child into the current Estonian kindergarten machinery at all, but the child’s communication skills need to be developed. According to her, the system is rotten, but sending her son into the unknown seems unavoidable.
According to Maaja Mänd, senior methodologist in pre-school education at Tallinn University’s pedagogical seminary, local governments often fail to guarantee places at crèches. Therefore, many parents are forced to pay private enterprises for pre-school education.
Looking closely at the Pre-School Child Care Institutions Act, regulations are even stricter. «County or city governments shall provide all children of 18 months to seven years of age, resident in the administrative territory of the given county or city and whose parents so desire, with the opportunity to attend child care institutions of the service area,» says section 10.
According to Ms Mänd, the situation is extremely bad. «Higher education is free, basic education is paid,» she said.
Ms Mänd says private kindergartens have started to prosper, and usually they are full as well. Some parents are indeed keen on getting their kids into private kindergartens. «They [private kindergartens] do keep their groups small, actually. And there are some really good private ones,» said the methodologist.
Ms Mänd underlines the huge problem of kindergartens being overcrowded. «Absolutely, local governments often argue that not all kids attend,» she said. Therefore, the groups are often blown too big.
Vice Mayor repels critique
According to Ms Mänd, many kindergarten educators are not working full time. Often, their work load is specified at 0.7 or 0.8 load. In reality, however, a group ought to have two full-time teachers. In essence, this means that one half-time educator is doing two people’s job. «And then they use the teachers who run between several groups,» said she.
According to the methodologist the situation is especially critical with children with special needs. «With children of special needs in a group, support persons are not granted. Let us say there are 22 kids in a group, one of them severely disabled. Well... and they do not even give them a support person,» the lady struggled to find words.
As admitted by social minister Taavi Rõivas (Reform Party), the situation is very worrisome. «Tallinn’s kindergarten problems have become so severe that people are putting off having more children, due to insecurities regarding kindergarten places,» said Mr Rõivas.
According to Mr Rõivas, it is also highly problematic that, in Tallinn, kindergarten’s capitation fee has stayed the same for a long time already, defying the current needs.
«The last five years’ situation in Tallinn, regarding kindergarten places, makes one sigh. It is no secret that the Tallinn powers have been very ignorant regarding kindergartens, investments have not decreased in percents but multiple times. The trend is the opposite than would be needed,» said the social minister.
According to Tallinn Vice Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart (Centre Party), the capital has succeeded in guaranteeing places for all children aged three to seven. He said there is a shortage of crèche places.
Mr Kõlvart also claimed that Tallinn partly compensates child care services. «Monthly, an average of 582 children’s care is being compensated,» said he.
According to the vice mayor, pre-school child care institution places are on offer starting 1.5 years of age as prescribed by law. This year, Tallinn is building one new kindergarten, to be named Tallinn Kihnu Kindergarten – with capacity for 264 kids.