Language Policy Department of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research

The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for the planning of education, research, youth and language related national policies and, in conjunction thereof, managing the fields of pre - primary, basic, general upper secondary, vocational secondary, higher, hobby and adult education, organising research and development activities, youth work and special youth work, and compiling drafts of corresponding legal acts.

In the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research there are several state agencies, foundations and institutions which are managed by the Ministry strategically through definition of their goals and analysis of their results, also determining their budget, exercising supervision, etc.

The main tasks of the Ministry of Education and Research are:

• development of national development plans;
  
• creating a system of legal acts;
  
• development of national curricula and other standards;
  
• development of the state supervision and quality assurance system;
  
• planning and organisation of financing and usage of state assets;
  
• planning of state commissioned education;
  
• development of the teachers’ and youth workers’ training system;
  
• informing the public about progress in education, research, youth and language policies;
  
• international cooperation.
  

The Ministry of Education and Research also legalizes education certificates.

Development plan of the Ministry combines six general goals:

• all Estonian people have been provided with educational opportunities throughout their life according to their needs and abilities to ensure that they, as people, have dignified opportunities for self - actualisation in society, work and family life;
  
• favourable conditions for the increasing of productivity and the quality of life, good education and culture, for the continuance and development of Estonia;
  
• that young people have extensive opportunities for development and self - actualisation, which support the formation of a cohesive and creative society;
  
• Estonian is a continually developing cultural language and that multilingualism in Estonia is valued;
  
• the preservation and use of society’s documentary memory, the assertion of citizen rights;
  
• an organisational culture that supports completing strategic goals and missions and following values in the domain of the Ministry of Education and Research, that is orientated towards cooperation and inclusion and creates trust in employees, partners and the public.