The Ministry of Education and Research declared a public procurement for e-study materials to update the secondary education. The procurement is aimed at creation of digital corpus, the content of which should conform with the requirements of national curricula with respect to all subject areas on the level of secondary education. Thus, in future, an opportunity to get secondary education in Estonian would open to anyone staying away from the homeland, with possibility to integrate different types of education.

Years ago those who dealt with e-courses noticed that young people spend a lot of time online – then why the educational sphere should keep away when it could also benefit from that? A desire of the Ministry of Education and Research to create up-to-date e-study materials which conform with the requirements of curricula seems to be a step further. According to an assistant manager of the ministerial e-service department Kristel Rillo, the procurement seeks two major goals.

"On the one hand we can see, that a leap is necessary in development of the study material quality and the content itself. If there are plenty of the English study materials around, the Estonian materials do not appear every day. On the other hand, there is the opportunity of mobile study. Where a lot of families move to another state to work or reside, they will continuously be able to get a share of good Estonian education," explained Rillo in ERR radio news.

The updated e-study would give new opportunities to adults 

Although the bigger work with children in acquiring knowledge in the first place is done by teacher, however, some young people, for instance, athletes like freeskier Kelly Sildaru or disabled learners who are not always able to be present at school. Therefore, e-materials, in Rillo opinioin, provide an opportunity to get education in native language regardless of hindrances, and bring adults back into school room.

"Me, too, can find e.g. in the curriculum different electives, that I have never taken before, but now, when we make such study materials available for free to everyone, it means that we also can go back to school," mentioned Rillo.

Besides, creation of e-study materials in future could integrate education of different types. "Vocational schools may offer certain elective courses to secondary schools as they have got better competency. Similar, some secondary school might help vocational school move ahead by providing a maths course. We strongly support such cooperation."

Money for creation of new solutions is available

Purchased study material can be opened with its initial code, which means that both organisations and teachers can adapt or further develop it. In Rillo’s mind, it should ensure the quality and authenticity of materials. Rillo was uncertain about the total cost of the initiative, but he confirmed that money for cutting-the-edge solutions is available.

"Such simulation or video is much more comfortable or simpler way to acquire knowledge. But, at the same time, it works for the certain subjects only. Some topics should and could remain on paper. Group work, outside studies and other ways of studying," added Rillo.

Primary source: ERR Novaator