Famous for its high PISA scores, Estonia is again setting the pace in educational innovations. The country has recently pushed to incorporate AI in schools, equipping the next generation with cutting-edge research tools from OpenAI and Anthropic. Building on this momentum, it’s securing another cooperation.
The Tallinn Education Department and international programming school kood/Jõhvi have announced a new partnership to bring Estonian-language programming courses to ten Tallinn high schools starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. The initiative aims to develop practical digital skills and deepen students’ knowledge of the technology sector.
kood/Jõhvi has been backed by top Estonian entrepreneurs and companies and has proven its effectiveness: in three years, it has admitted six cohorts with a total of 1,100 learners. Around 150 have already graduated and entered the job market. The organisation expanded with a sister school called kood/Sisu in Finland in the summer 2024 and plans to open a new school in Võru in the autumn of 2025.
In high schools, it will offer three programming courses:
- Introduction to programming
- Web development
- Data analysis
The first introductory course has already debuted at Tallinna Tehnikagümnaasium. The courses follow a self-directed learning format where students study independently and collaborate with peers—the same approach used in kood/Jõhvi’s adult program.
“We see that it is increasingly important in today’s society to develop practical digital skills and deepen students’ knowledge of the technology sector. The high interest from schools shows that programming skills are considered essential,” said Kaarel Rundu, Head of the Tallinn Education Department and the initiator of the idea.
Estonia consistently ranks high in STEM performance, with PISA scores showing excellence in mathematics and science. For instance, 13% of Estonian students are top performers in mathematics, surpassing the OECD average of 9%. Now, the country’s young STEM masterminds will have an even easier time figuring out their career prospects.
“STEM subjects are the cornerstone of future education—they open new opportunities for young people and provide a strong foundation for further development. This initiative equips young people with practical digital skills, expands their future opportunities, and helps raise a new generation of creative and tech-savvy professionals,” says Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor for Education Aleksei Jašin.
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