ENG


"Huvitav Kool" (Interesting School) is an initiative started by the Ministry of Education and Research. It’s objective is to encourage schools to respond better to the expectations of today’s society and make learning experience more stimulating and inspiring for both students and teachers.

The initiative disseminates best practice and organizes networking events. During the first period (2014-2019) of activities the initiative focused on community involvement, professional teachers, optimal curricula, and supportive external evaluation processes in general education. 

During the current period (2020-2025) the focus topics are: integration formal and non-formal learning, parental education and responsibility for child development, transition from kindergarten to school, contemporary school culture. 

For the period 2020-2025 the aim of the Initiative is as follows: 

⇒ achievement of the strategic educational objectives by focusing on the school’s contribution to increasing social well-being;
⇒ the evolution of the Initiative from an inclusion and communication-based platform into a “network of networks” conducive to, and supportive of, cooperation;
⇒ disseminating internationally the evidence-based information gathered through the Initiative on Educational Innovation.



Vision
Learning is interesting at each Estonian school
Learning is interesting at each Estonian school; interesting schooling contributes to the creation of social well-being
Mission
To affect the actors’ satisfaction with school by 2020
Increasing the wellbeing of all school-related actors in line with the strategic goals of the development plan for education by 2035

Objectives
To make Estonian schools more transparent and motivating for pupils, teachers, parents and other supporters and friends of education
·       To give national and international visibility to the evidence-based best practices in Estonian general education;
·       To create an environment for increasingly close spontaneous network-based cooperation between educational institutions

Action trajectories
Implementation of inclusion and communication activities in order to reflect society’s expectations of school and education
·       develop the existing inclusion, communication and cooperation platform in order to bring different sides together and encourage cooperation
·       create science-based description of educational innovations implemented by schools
Focus themes
Contemporary curriculum;
Professional teachers;
Supportive external assessment;
Inclusion of communities
·       Non-formal and formal learning
·       Responsibility of parents for supporting the development of their children
·       Kindergarten-to-school transition
·       Contemporary school culture

Expected results


Individuals from outside the education field are more involved in evolving general education;

The conceptualisation of the image of the teaching profession is worked out;

Important priorities of the national curricula that have not been implemented yet are communicated more clearly.

·       The preparation of science-based descriptions of innovative learning and teaching practices implemented in general education schools, supportive external assessment, contemporary school management and development of school culture is completed
·       Science-based descriptions of such practices are made available to educational communities and the wider public within the country
·       We have assurance that our innovative educational practices are recognized nationally and are suitable for distribution based on an international marketing plan
·       General education schools are involved in the achievement of strategic educational objectives and development of a school environment that contributes to well-being























The follow-up Programme on the Intersting School Initiative is based on the strategic action trajectories set out in the Estonian Education Strategy 2021–2035 through raising the following focus themes.

Focus themes are highlighted: 

a) at events targeted to the general public to present the strategic objectives of the education strategy, to discuss the implementation of the strategy based on the vision and objectives of the Initiative (e.g. the Opinion Festival), to present the success stories of general education that have been shared internationally; in county think tanks organised to discuss strategic issues related to the provision of education in counties;

b) at events targeted to educational communities (teachers, heads of school, school owners) to present innovative approaches applied in general education (conferences), to share and present the best practices of the contemporary approach to learning and teaching (intra-network days dedicated to presenting best practices; forums) and to discuss topical issues.

Organisation of the activities of the Initiative:

Initiative coordinator (Ministry of Education and Research) - strategic planning of the Initiative in collaboration with the Advisory Council and Programme Leader of the Initiative. 
⇒ Programme Leader (Centre of Educational Innovation at the University of Tartu) – implementation of, and communication concerning, the activities of the Initiative, including increasing the visibility of the Initiative. 
⇒ Advisory Council of the Initiative – broadly-based on action trajectories and focal points. The composition of the Advisory Council partially rotates (one third of the members are replaced every two years). The Advisory Council comprises representatives of general education schools, kindergartens, vocational schools, hobby schools, universities, parents, companies and the third sector.

Annual conference in January 2020 organized by Initiative Interesting School,
University of Tartu and Foundation Innove

Contacts:

Pille Liblik, Coordinator; Adviser of Primary and Basic Education Department, Ministry of Education and Research, e-mail: huvitavkool@hm.ee, mobile: +372 5238327


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