Estonia’s Digital Education Revolution
Estonia, a small Baltic nation with a population of 1.4 million, has emerged as Europe’s top performer in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa). The country has achieved this success by embracing digital technology in its education system.
Unlike many schools in England that have banned smartphones, Estonian students are encouraged to use their devices in class. The country’s education minister, Kristina Kallas, attributes this approach to Estonia’s openness to digital tools and services. “In the Estonian case, society in general is much more open and prone to using digital tools and services,” she explained.
Estonia is now launching a national initiative called AI Leap, aiming to equip 58,000 students and 5,000 teachers with “world-class artificial intelligence tools and skills” by 2027. The program will start with 16- and 17-year-olds this September, with licenses being negotiated with OpenAI to make Estonia a testbed for AI in schools.
Training Teachers for AI Integration
Teachers will receive training in using AI technology, focusing on self-directed learning and digital ethics. The emphasis will be on educational equity and AI literacy, ensuring that students develop higher cognitive skills to complement AI capabilities.
“We’re facing this evolutionary, developmental challenge now,” Kallas said. “We either evolve into faster-thinking and higher-level-thinking creatures, or the technology will take over our consciousness.”
Estonia’s approach to education technology is not new. In 1997, the country invested heavily in computers and network infrastructure through its Tiigrihüpe (Tiger Leap) program, connecting all schools to the internet. Now, smartphones and AI are seen as the next step in this digital journey.
The country’s forward-thinking approach is also reflected in its voting system. In local elections, 16-year-olds can vote online using their mobile phones. “It’s a little bit strange if we would not allow them to use them in school, in an educational setting,” Kallas noted.
As Estonia continues to lead in education innovation, it challenges other countries to rethink their approach to technology in schools. By embracing AI and smartphones, Estonia aims to create a generation of digitally literate citizens equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
