| Education System in Estonia |
Estonian Education dates back to the 14th Century when monastic and cathedral schools were founded. Today the education system is divided into 4 hierarchical phases including pre-primary, basic, secondary and higher education with provision for academic or vocational schooling within the system. Basic schooling takes 9 years from age 7 to age 16. At the end if this period, successful pupils receive a Basic School Leaving Certificate or Põhikool löputunnistus.
The 3 years of secondary school education that follow provide opportunities in 2 different streams. General academic education completes with a secondary school completion certificate called a gumnaasiumi loputunnistus, while completing secondary vocational education achieves a certificate on acquiring secondary vocational education based on basic education tunnistus pöhihariduse baasil kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta.
