If you've been reading Estonian newspapers lately, you might have come across the dispute around the Metsküla Elementary School. It started last March when the Lääneranna Rural Municipality in Pärnu County decided to abruptly close the school as part of a reorganization their school network. The school and parents started a campaign to keep the school going, an effort that is ongoing.
Public opinion has mainly been supportive of the school’s struggle for survival. In June 2023, Metsküla Elementary School was named School of the Year by ERR (the Estonian Broadcasting Company). For years, the school has been a model for contemporary student-led pedagogy. Each student has their own individualized learning path and there are no numerical assessments until fifth grade. Despite the size of the school, it has actively participated in international twinning projects and has been able to offer the pupils opportunities to learn coding, robotics, and more. And the school has shown results when it comes to learning. For instance, its pupils have won county competitions.
Yet, since last summer, the school doesn't officially exist anymore.
… the ministry has offered the opportunity to apply for special financial support for small schools. The municipal decision makers have, however, stayed steadfast behind their decision to close the school.
Minister of Education Kristina Kallas and President Karis have visited the defiant school community and talked with the municipality in order to find a compromise. While this is a municipal decision they cannot legally influence, the ministry has offered the opportunity to apply for special financial support for small schools. The municipal decision makers have, however, stayed steadfast behind their decision to close the school.
Where have all the children gone?
The Metsküla school saga sheds light on the plight of smaller schools in Estonia. With a decreasing population and increased urbanization, a transformation of Estonia’s school network seems inevitable. Last year, the number of births in Estonia fell for the first time below 11,000, which is one third less than in the beginning of the 1990s. In the past 30 years, some 350 schools have had to close due to the lack of children, and, according to calculations by the Ministry of Education and Research (MER), close to a hundred schools are facing the same fate.
At the same time, all children have a right to good quality education notwithstanding where they live. While increasing regional segregation has led to big differences in resources across municipalities, the state has eased their burden by starting to run a number of state secondary schools all over Estonia. Primary level education is still the responsibility of the local municipality while private schools are also allowed.
Small schools are in and of itself a good way of offering a safe learning environment — especially schools with progressive pedagogies and good results like Metsküla. They are also an important service when a municipality wants to attract new working age residents. Thus, school closures need to be well-thought and cannot be measured with a simplistic neoliberal efficiency yardstick. Moreover, the problem often lies with the upkeep costs of the school buildings. New innovative ideas on how to use them as multi-purpose spaces might offer solutions with regard to their maintenance.
The Struggle Continues
Support without pressure can lead to a misuse of resources. However, pressure without support leads to alienation and resistance.
Canadian educational researcher Michael Fullan has noted that educational reforms are necessary and inevitable as the world is changing. Transformation is based on both pressure and support. Successful reforms depend on good leadership, partnerships, initiative, and motivation. Support without pressure can lead to a misuse of resources. However, pressure without support leads to alienation and resistance.
Local conflicts such as the Metsküla saga have raised questions about whether all municipalities are up to the tasks of offering quality education and carrying out reforms. Trust of municipal politicians has eroded, as they have made decisions without consulting the community, are pressuring parents, and are unwilling to compromise for the sake of children’s interests.
During the 2023-24 academic year, the two dozen pupils of the school have been partly home-schooled with the help of their former teachers, as the parents refuse to take them to bigger schools further away. The parents have started a court battle against the municipality and recently formed an organization to continue the school on a private basis. Several musicians are helping them by organizing an online fundraiser on Friday March 8th (search for “Metsküla koolitunne” if you want to participate).
Their resistance reminds us that being small does not mean that you have no right to exist. The Estonian state is small like Metsküla school, and has shown that size is not the deciding factor for success.
