Kristina Kallas in Brussels: Estonian students' reading skills are among the best in Europe

16.05.2023 | 17:38

On Monday and Tuesday, Minister Kristina Kallas participated in the sessions of the ministers of education and youth in Brussels and met bilaterally with the ministers of Austria, Sweden, France, Belgium, Spain and Croatia, as well as the Estonian ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Artur Kink.

In December, the latest results of the PISA test will be published. In this spirit, the ministers of education discussed the topics of students' reading skills, where Estonia clearly stands out with very good results.

Minister Kristina Kallas: "It's no secret that ohter countries ask us how have these good results been achieved. "The answer is always that there is no single magic bullet, but we are ready to support Member States on their journey to modernize their education systems so that the average reading profieciency in the EU could rise at the intended pace."

The ministers of education found at the session that automatic recognition of qualifications is necessary in the field of education and training, and we must continue to take the necessary steps so that it becomes a reality. The minister pointed out that a good example is the agreement between the Baltic countries and the Benelux, which simplifies people's lives when it comes to certifying acquired education.

The focus of the session of the youth ministers was the involvement of young people, including young people from war refugees in Ukraine. The minister said that Estonia is also an example in the youth field, but we still have a long way to go. "For example, the new coalition plans to lower the voting age, the ministry is developing an e-engagement tool, and we are training youth workers on mental health issues." The minister added that he sincerely believes that young people must be able to have a say in decisions about the country's future. "After all, this is the country of their future that we are building."

Photos

Margit Voog

Communications expert

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