Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor Aleksei Jašin is participating in the Helsinki Education Capital Event, an international gathering of education experts held in Helsinki from November 12–14, where he is presenting Estonia’s ongoing education reforms and sharing the city of Tallinn’s experiences.

Representing Estonia at the forum, Aleksei Jašin’s presentation focuses on key topics in the country’s education reforms, including a notable recent step: the transition to Estonian-language education, aimed at providing equal opportunities for all students and strengthening language skills from the start of school. In his remarks, the Deputy Mayor highlighted segregation as a unique challenge for Tallinn’s educational system, resulting from the diverse socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds of students. To address this, the city is developing measures to create a more inclusive and diverse learning environment, offering equal opportunities to all students regardless of background.

Jašin emphasized that Tallinn’s and Estonia’s efforts in this area align with Finland’s Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz’s core message, which focused on adapting the Finnish education system to future needs, particularly in primary education and reducing social and educational segregation. “Estonia’s education system has historically followed Finland’s example, making both countries known for their strong education systems,” noted Jašin. “While our two countries have different education models, we share a commitment to providing comprehensive support for both students and teachers to prepare them for a changing world.”

The forum also discussed PISA results, highlighting differences in student well-being and self-esteem between Estonia and Finland. Although Finnish students achieve high academic results, their self-esteem and satisfaction with school tend to be low. To address this, Finland has taken steps to create a more positive and supportive learning environment.

Jašin emphasized Estonia’s efforts to improve students’ academic outcomes and general well-being in an international context. One challenge is the lower academic performance of students whose first language is not Estonian, impacting their educational and career opportunities. “Estonia is paying increasing attention to student well-being and mental health to balance academic expectations and improve students’ satisfaction with school life,” he added.

The Deputy Mayor presented planned education reforms in Estonia, including raising the mandatory education age and reforming vocational education, aimed at providing young people with better preparation for entering the workforce and thus reducing youth unemployment. He also discussed initiatives for teacher recruitment and career model updates, aimed at supporting teachers' professional development and ensuring stability in schools. Reducing educational and social segregation and transitioning to Estonian-language education are key priorities in Tallinn, with significant investments from both the city and the state.

In the coming years, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the education system as a natural component will be essential, focusing on creating value rather than imposing limitations or prohibitions.

The Helsinki Education Capital program, an initiative by Helsinki’s Education Department, aims to develop and renew the city’s education system. The program brings together international and Finnish education experts to discuss the future of education and schools and to share best practices and innovations.