Legislation

The Act defines the general objectives and organisation of the educational system; levels and objectives of education; the duties of the Riigikogu (Parliament), local governments and the Ministry of Education and Research in the field of education; types of educational institutions and the general principles of their activity as well as the bases for the Estonian Educational Information System.

The Pre-school Child Care Institutions Act provides for the basis for the organisation of teaching and education in nurseries; the rights and obligations of children and parents and regulates the establishing, managing, funding and supervision of nurseries.

The Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act provides for the basis for the organisation of teaching and education in general education schools; the rights and obligations of students and parents and regulates the establishing, managing, funding and supervision of general education schools.

The Private Schools Act regulates the establishing of private schools and their applications for an education license and defines the specifications of the organisation of teaching and education along with the management and funding as compared with public and municipal schools.

The Study Allowances and Study Loans Act lays down the conditions of, and procedure for receiving the basic allowance for vocational training, needs-based education allowance for higher education and doctoral allowance as well as the government-secured study loan.

The Hobby Schools Act provides for the basis for the organisation of teaching and education for hobby schools; the rights and obligations of students and regulates the establishing, managing, funding and supervision of hobby schools.

The Youth Work Act regulates the establishing, maintaining and supervision of permanent and project-based youth camps as well as the funding youth projects, associations and other youth programmes.

The Adult Education Act defines the types of adult training and regulates the provision of study leave as well as the funding of adult training.

The Professions Act provides for the basis for the organisation of the professional qualifications system, regulates activities of awarding authorities and professional councils, the adoption of professional standards, the award of professional qualifications and professional certificates to individuals.

The Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act lays down the conditions of and procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications of persons who have acquired their professional qualifications in a foreign country and wish to work in Estonia in a position or profession for which qualification requirements have been established by legislation.

The Organisation of Research and Development Act provides for the basis for the organisation of research and development activities and regulates the establishing, managing, funding and supervision of research institutions.

The Estonian Academy of Sciences Act provides for the legal status, status of members, structure, management and funding of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

The National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Act provides for the objectives of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics and the specifications of its activities as compared with other research institutions.

The Language Act regulates the use of the Estonian language and foreign languages in oral and written administration, public information and service as well as the use of Estonian sign language and signed Estonian language along with the requirements for and assessment of the proficiency in the Estonian language, exercise of state supervision over compliance with the requirements provided by the Act.

The Archives Act regulates the appraisal of records, acquisition and preservation of archival records, grant of access to them and organisation of the use of documents and lays down the basis for the activities of the National Archives and local government archives.