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EESTI ELU reedel, 22. mail 2020 — Friday, May 22, 2020
Nr. 20
English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Do top PISA rankings drive Estonian innovations? The 2018 rankings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the Organi zation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) placed Estonian students first in Europe in an aggregated score testing read ing mathematics and science among 36 European states. Now it’s been revealed that the 2018 study also included the testing of the students’ financial literacy. Estonia once again placed first. There’s no doubt that Estonia is the “ newest education power house”, the absolute best in Europe! As a triennial international survey, PISA evaluates the edu cational systems worldwide by testing the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students. On a global scale Estonia scored 547, Finland – 537, and Canada – 532. The rest of the top ten were Poland, Australia, USA, Portugal, Latvia and Lithuania. Worldwide some 600,000 15-year-old students completed the PISA assessment in 2018, representing 79 countries, in cluding 36 OECD states. In Estonia this was 5316, or 75 percent of those 15-year-old students. Russia had 25 percent of this group participate. While it may be a malicious sug gestion, some have observed that all participating countries should be required to have the same proportion of that particu lar student population tested – in essence most of the students rather than the least – to avoid the possibility of only handpicked high achievers compet ing. Also, an authentically ran dom selection of student would eliminate any selection of bias. It must also be noted that Estonian students have won hundreds of medals at educa tional Olympiads over the last decade. The PISA results (Esto nia ranking first in reading, math and science in Europe and first in financial literacy glo bally) have implications much wider than a recognition of ex cellence in educational policy and methodology. The PISA results are translatable to the international business world. Other research has shown that Estonian students have less
fear of failure than their peers in other countries. They believe they can improve their intelli gence and are willing to expend what it takes to benefit them in the future. Fully 70% expect to gain post-secondary school education. It’s not unexpected that Estonians are far from meek in business. In 2017 Estonia was ranked number in entrepre neurial activity according to the World Economic Forum. It’s not only the much touted Skype, Playtech, TransferWise and Bolt that have made their international mark, there are fully 650 startups in Estonia ready and willing to conquer the global market. The “Tiger Leap” as pro moted by ex-president Toomas Hendrik Ilves became the new norm. One of first in the world in digitizing its schools and offering modern technology in teaching, Estonia equipped stu dents with skills for the future and this ability has been pivotal in the country gaining a world class reputation for its boldness in information technology inno vation. Smart solutions, such as digital textbooks, e-learning materials, digital class diaries, digital assessments and digital databases have been in common use for years in the education system. Estonia has rightfully quali fied for a winning brand – “Education nation – for the smartEST people in the world”. It’s an engaging slogan which not only helps to boost education technology companies but also draws attention to the country’s competence, experiences, train ing, ingenuity and general know how. Estonia’s adeptness in infor mation technology has been confirmed by many international assessments, including the the 2019 International Innovation Scorecard of the Consumer Technology Association. Ranked first among 61 countries, Esto nia even topped the USA. Estonia was followed by Switzerland and Finland, with Latvia coming in at number 22. There’s no doubt that Esto nia’s success in developing IT innovations that make it through to the marketplace is
Edgar Marten, long time Estonia supplementary school principal and educational mentor, received a procession of some 75 cars greeting him on his 100th birthday on Sunday, May 17, at Ehatare. With him at the required physical distance are some of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Photo: Estonian Life
Estonian Health Board: Crucial to keep up coronavirus best practices ERR, May 2020 The end of the government’s emergency situation (eriolu kord), which expired at mid night Sunday, May 17, does not equate to the end of required measures to deal with the coronavirus risk, the Health Board (Terviseamet)
related to its education policies. But this achievement has also been driven by other factors. Estonia was one of the quickest to shake off its Soviet encum brances and become open to the world. It immediately welcomed Western advice and policies. Estonia had a relatively un hindered and peaceful transition to democratic institutions and procedures. It had no major ideological and political fault lines which may have slowed the pace of progress. Estonia’s political leadership was considerably younger than their post-authoritarian counter parts – some important ministe rial portfolios, including that of the prime minister, filled by individuals still in their early 30’s and by ex-pats from the West. The country had a successful neighbour, its linguistic kin, Finland, whose influence can not be dismissed. Estonians, as opposed to all the other captive peoples of Europe were able to enjoy Western news and enter tainment from Finnish TV broad casts by simply angling their TV antennas appropriately, something that authorities could not successfully block. Estonia was known to Russians in the USSR as ‘Europe’. This must enter the equation when ex plaining Estonia’s progress. Estonia’s ‘innovation culture’ is well rooted. Innovation will lead to more innovation, the pandemic notwithstanding. LAAS LEIVAT
says. Merike Jürilo, Director General of the Health Board, noted that the incidence of coronavirus in Estonia is cur rently low, but even in the emergency situation which be gan on March 12, the spread of the virus has not been complete ly halted.
The emergency situation was primarily to prevent meltdown of the healthcare sector as a whole, Jürilo noted on the Health Board’s website. “The main idea of the emer gency situation from the point of view of health care was to keep the virus at a level which would not impair the work of our hospitals and ambulance services,” she said, adding that (Continued on page 10)
Dear young global Estonian! The newly-established Estonian Worldwide Youth Net work (e-WYN) (Estonian: Ülemaailmne Eesti Noortevõr gustik – ÜENV) is organising the first-ever Youth Virtual Days, to bring together young people with Estonian roots from across the globe! We want to hear your thoughts! We invite all those from ages 14–30, who speak conversa tional Estonian, to come discuss and learn with us! Furthermore, we are keen to hear your thoughts in English and in Russian; if you are more comfortable in those lan guages, please do not hesitate to ask us about how best to participate. The Virtual Days provide an opportunity for you to meet other interesting Estonian youth, discuss what it means to be Estonian, and to make your own contribution to the Estonian government’s Global Estonian commission. Our discussions now are critical for the future of our communities! The Virtual Days will take place over Zoom in roughly 2-hour sessions over two consecutive Saturdays: May 30 and June 6. They will begin at 17:00, Estonian time (GMT+3). Those who participate actively will be awarded the title of 2020 Global Estonian Youth Ambassador, which will be recognised through a certificate signed by Es tonian Population Minister, Mrs. Riina Solman. We eagerly await input and thoughts from global Estonian youth on various topics, including on language and educa tion, communication, cultural exchange and cooperation, economic opportunities and investment, moving to Estonia, and much more! Your input is valuable and discussions from the Virtual Days will inform the work of the aforementioned global Estonian commission of the Estonian government. You may register for the Virtual Days here: http://bit.ly/ virtuaalpaevad. If you have questions, please write us in Estonian, English or Russian at: noored@globalestonian.com See you at the Virtual Days! Estonian Worldwide Youth Network (e-WYN) executive TUULI-EMILY LIIVAT – Finland JUKU (JOSH) GOLD – Canada MARTIN TIKK – Eesti KARL HERBERT GRABBI – USA NORA SÖÖT – Sweden VALERA KRINBERG – Russia
