Pointing out that Estonian education is considered a model of excellence around the world for both its level of quality and its strong digital base, Sirje Karis explained that the country set out on its digital education journey 30 years ago with the ‘Tiger Leap’ initiative, which brought computers into schools. “That was not merely a technological step we took, but a change of mindset,” she remarked. “In education, one must be bold and look to the future.”
She also spoke about the ‘AI Jump’ programme launched in Estonian schools this autumn, which will provide 20,000 students and thousands of teachers with access to artificial intelligence resources. “Our aim is not simply for AI to be used, but for children to learn from an early age to be curious, to solve problems and to feel at home in the digital world,” she said.
“At the same time, the technology in and of itself is not an innovation,” she added. “If it does not support learning, it could in fact be useless, or even harmful. What is most important is whether it helps students develop the skills needed of them in today’s world: critical thinking, creativity and a willingness to constantly learn. That is why investing in teachers is at the heart of any successful change in education, since they are the ones who actually implement innovation. They give children not just knowledge, but also motivation and self-belief.”
Sirje Karis attended the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv – the fifth in the series – at the invitation of Olena Zelenska, the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Among her counterparts also taking part in this year’s event, entitled ‘Education Shaping the World’, were Suzanne Innes-Stubb of Finland, Doris Schmidauer of Austria, Diana Nausėdienė of Lithuania, Elke Büdenbender of Germany and Bo Tengberg of Denmark.
Estonia’s experience of implementing educational innovation was shared by Triin Laasi-Õige, a secretary general at the Ministry of Education and Research, and Indrek Lillemägi, the director of Pelgulinna High School. In addition to attending the summit, Sirje Karis visited the National Art Museum of Ukraine, where the importance of museums in providing non-formal education and supporting mental health was discussed.
The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was launched by Olena Zelenska in 2021 with the aim of creating a platform to exchange experience and launch new projects in the medical, cultural, educational and humanitarian fields.
