General education, vocational education, higher education

• If the symptoms occur at school or kindergarten, it is necessary to notify the leadership of the institution and/or the person who organises the future activities of this. A student who becomes symptomatic has to turn to a teacher or the school nurse.
• Symptomatic people have to be given a mask and isolated from others.
• Depending on the age of the person, he is either sent home or isolated from others in a room suitable for this under the supervision of a teacher/school nurse until a parent arrives.
• Any symptoms must mean that you stay home and contact your family doctor for further instructions if necessary. For urgent matters you can also turn to the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220.

Last updated: 31.08.2022 23:20

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When the spread of the virus is extensive, it is recommended to organise study visits, trips and excursions based on a fixed group or so-called bubble. All rules in place at the location visited must be adhered to.

A school can use different (see the list of examples) safety measures when organising ceremonies and events during the extensive spread of the virus:

• to recommend that participants come to the opening ceremony mainly when they have been vaccinated or tested, in order to reduce the probability of spreading the virus;
• for instance, to reduce the number of participants at the event;
• to organise the event outside;
• to ensure that people are spread out;
• to ensure good ventilation in the room (in case of natural ventilation by, i.e., airing the room out intensively and keeping the windows in the airing position);
• to organise the event through a video link;
• to remind the participants that symptomatic people must remain at home.

A school cannot demand that a parent present a COVID certificate or a negative test result in order to participate at the event.

Last updated: 31.08.2022 23:41

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In case of extensive spread of the virus, the Ministry of Education and Research recommends organising activities in primary education, younger levels of general education, and in youth work and hobby activities (including pre-schools) in the so-called bubbles if possible, i.e. in fixed groups that do not come in contact with each other. If possible, it is also recommended to spread out the students in rooms and buildings in other age groups as well.

How to organise dispersion?

• Organise the activities in rooms as large as possible.
• Keep a distance of at least 1-2 meters between people.
• Organise as many activities as possible outdoors.
• If possible, plan the starting and ending times of the studies of different groups, as well as their break times, to different time slots, combine outdoor breaks with lunch breaks.
• Avoid or decrease contacts between different groups as much as possible, including their paths crossing in the wardrobe, dining hall, assembly hall, hallways and common spaces.
• Where possible, it should be the teachers moving between rooms, not the students.
• Generally, distance learning is not used with the goal of spreading out the students. A few e-learning days can be used for dispersing the students mainly in the upper secondary level and vocational studies, while taking into consideration the students' possibilities to participate in the learning. As a rule, distance learning is not used for the I and II level of basic school and students who require additional support.

Kindergartens and childcare facilities should avoid the merging of groups.

Institutions of higher education decide the organisation of their work themselves.

Last updated: 08.09.2022 14:29

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Wearing a mask is recommended when the coronavirus is widely spread, in areas where many people come in contact with each other.

Teachers, instructors and youth workers are recommended to wear a mask when the spread of the coronavirus in the society is extensive, especially at major indoor events where it is not possible to maintain a distance.

Last updated: 31.08.2022 23:12

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Both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons must remain home if any symptoms occur.

It is allowed to be at an educational institution with a slight cold or cough if the origin of the symptoms is known, i.e. the person has recovered from a seasonal infection, is generally feeling well but a slight leftover stuffiness or cough persist. Also when it is due to an allergic condition.

Last updated: 31.08.2022 23:26

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You do not. It is allowed to be at school and in other educational and youth work facilities with a slightly runny nose or a light cough if the origin of the symptoms is known: for instance, it is due to a chronic condition (allergies, asthma), or the person has recently recovered from some seasonal infection, is generally feeling well, but a slight leftover cough or runny nose persist.

It is very important that everybody act responsibly.

Last updated: 08.09.2022 14:34

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Assistance in matters connected to the field of education:

• the Ministry of Education and Research, information lines 5690 0353 and 5690 0340

• e-mail: info@hm.ee

An overview of the rules for the fields of the Ministry of Education and Research, as well as the instructions sent to the institutions can be found on the web page https://www.hm.ee/koroona.

Last updated: 31.08.2022 23:46

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Yes, but only in exceptional cases for a few students when there is a thoroughly considered and substantiated need. A tri-party agreement regarding the organisation of work needs to be reached between the school, the parent and the student in order to authorise distance learning.

If the parent wishes, it is possible to also consider the option of homeschooling, presuming that the school has comprehensively explained the principles, obligations and responsibilities of homeschooling.

Last updated: 08.09.2022 14:13

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